Freeport-McMoRan
FCX
#262
Rank
$87.04 B
Marketcap
$60.62
Share price
2.36%
Change (1 day)
66.54%
Change (1 year)

Freeport-McMoRan - 10-Q quarterly report FY


Text size:


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005
OR
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
 
to
Commission File Number: 1-9916
 
 
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
74-2480931
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
1615 Poydras Street
 
New Orleans, Louisiana*
70112
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(504) 582-4000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes XNo __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes XNo __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes __ No X

On September 30, 2005, there were issued and outstanding 184,044,962 shares of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share.

* In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. has temporarily moved its corporate headquarters to 5353 Essen Lane, Suite 350, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809, office telephone (225) 765-2200.

 


FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


  
 
Page
3
  
 
  
3
  
4
  
5
  
6
  
11
  
12
  
 
13
  
37
  
37
  
37
  
37
  
38
  
38
  
38
  
E-1
  
 
2

Table of Contents
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

  
September 30,
  
December 31,
 
  
2005
  
2004
 
  
(In Thousands)
 
ASSETS
        
Current assets:
        
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
392,845
  
$
551,450
 
Restricted cash
  
500
   
500
 
Accounts receivable
  
418,689
   
435,062
 
Inventories
  
450,031
   
466,712
 
Prepaid expenses and other
  
13,129
   
6,223
 
Total current assets
  
1,275,194
   
1,459,947
 
Property, plant, equipment and development costs, net
  
3,120,311
   
3,199,292
 
Deferred mining costs
  
289,025
   
220,415
 
Other assets
  
142,097
   
159,539
 
Investment in PT Smelting
  
51,154
   
47,802
 
Total assets
 
$
4,877,781
  
$
5,086,995
 
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
Current liabilities:
        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
440,229
  
$
386,590
 
Current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings
  
195,581
   
78,214
 
Accrued income taxes
  
160,641
   
92,346
 
Rio Tinto share of joint venture cash flows
  
68,292
   
60,224
 
Unearned customer receipts
  
57,570
   
33,021
 
Accrued interest payable
  
15,635
   
47,167
 
Total current liabilities
  
937,948
   
697,562
 
Long-term debt, less current portion:
        
Senior notes
  
746,021
   
911,336
 
Convertible senior notes
  
386,565
   
575,000
 
Equipment and other loans
  
57,901
   
67,624
 
Atlantic Copper debt
  
33
   
4,426
 
Redeemable preferred stock
  
-
   
179,880
 
PT Puncakjaya Power bank debt
  
-
   
135,426
 
Total long-term debt, less current portion
  
1,190,520
   
1,873,692
 
Accrued postretirement benefits and other liabilities
  
204,177
   
200,228
 
Deferred income taxes
  
909,141
   
932,416
 
Minority interests
  
187,976
   
219,448
 
Stockholders' equity:
        
Convertible perpetual preferred stock
  
1,100,000
   
1,100,000
 
Class B common stock
  
29,310
   
28,496
 
Capital in excess of par value of common stock
  
2,090,782
   
1,852,816
 
Retained earnings
  
762,823
   
604,680
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  
7,181
   
11,342
 
Common stock held in treasury
  
(2,542,077
)
  
(2,433,685
)
Total stockholders’ equity
  
1,448,019
   
1,163,649
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
4,877,781
  
$
5,086,995
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
3

Table of Contents
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

  
Three Months Ended
  
Nine Months Ended
 
  
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
  
2005
  
2004
  
2005
  
2004
 
  
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 
Revenues
$
983,270
 
$
600,556
 
$
2,689,244
 
$
1,447,075
 
Cost of sales:
            
Production and delivery
 
434,368
  
368,016
  
1,189,960
  
1,015,307
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
61,646
  
55,755
  
172,731
  
123,755
 
Total cost of sales
 
496,014
  
423,771
  
1,362,691
  
1,139,062
 
Exploration expenses
 
2,159
  
1,963
  
6,421
  
6,977
 
General and administrative expenses
 
25,546
  
26,186
  
72,539
  
64,322
 
Total costs and expenses
 
523,719
  
451,920
  
1,441,651
  
1,210,361
 
Operating income
 
459,551
  
148,636
  
1,247,593
  
236,714
 
Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses)
 
1,315
  
2,678
  
6,473
  
(228
)
Interest expense, net
 
(33,330
)
 
(37,848
)
 
(106,170
)
 
(110,577
)
Losses on early extinguishment and
            
conversion of debt
 
(38,416
)
 
(11
)
 
(38,379
)
 
(14,011
)
Other income, net
 
3,605
  
373
  
19,700
  
3,547
 
Income before income taxes and minority
            
interests
 
392,725
  
113,828
  
1,129,217
  
115,445
 
Provision for income taxes
 
(186,712
)
 
(71,343
)
 
(539,424
)
 
(127,894
)
Minority interests in net income of
            
consolidated subsidiaries
 
(25,083
)
 
(10,227
)
 
(72,971
)
 
(12,914
)
Net income (loss)
 
180,930
  
32,258
  
516,822
  
(25,363
)
Preferred dividends
 
(15,125
)
 
(15,125
)
 
(45,375
)
 
(30,366
)
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock
$
165,805
 
$
17,133
 
$
471,447
 
$
(55,729
)
             
Net income (loss) per share of common stock:
            
Basic
 
$0.93
  
$0.10
  
$2.64
  
$(0.30
)
Diluted
 
$0.86
  
$0.10
  
$2.48
  
$(0.30
)
Average common shares outstanding:
            
Basic
 
177,895
  
177,137
  
178,513
  
183,426
 
Diluted
 
219,824
  
179,805
  
220,285
  
183,426
 
             
Dividends paid per share of common stock
 
$0.75
  
$0.20
  
$1.75
  
$0.60
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
4

Table of Contents

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

  
Nine Months Ended
 
  
September 30,
 
  
2005
  
2004
 
  
(In Thousands)
 
Cash flow from operating activities:
        
Net income (loss)
 
$
516,822
  
$
(25,363
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by
   
(used in) operating activities:
        
Depreciation and amortization
  
172,731
   
123,755
 
Losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt
  
38,379
   
14,011
 
Deferred income taxes
  
(24,085
)
  
76,107
 
Equity in PT Smelting (earnings) losses
  
(6,473
)
  
228
 
Minority interests' share of net income
  
72,971
   
12,914
 
Increase in deferred mining costs
  
(68,610
)
  
(81,383
)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
  
5,979
   
6,509
 
Currency translation gains
  
(4,924
)
  
(1,086
)
Elimination of profit on PT Freeport Indonesia sales to PT Smelting
  
3,120
   
2,473
 
Provision for inventory obsolescence
  
4,500
   
3,050
 
Other
  
17,888
   
5,825
 
(Increases) decreases in working capital:
        
Accounts receivable
  
5,582
   
(60,280
)
Inventories
  
7,772
   
(59,879
)
Prepaid expenses and other
  
(5,696
)
  
(43,299
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  
56,084
   
35,394
 
Rio Tinto share of joint venture cash flows
  
8,068
   
(31,994
)
Accrued income taxes
  
82,919
   
(39,866
)
(Increase) decrease in working capital
  
154,729
   
(199,924
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  
883,027
   
(62,884
)
Cash flow from investing activities:
        
PT Freeport Indonesia capital expenditures
  
(85,793
)
  
(90,111
)
Atlantic Copper and other capital expenditures
  
(9,814
)
  
(18,295
)
Proceeds from insurance settlement
  
2,016
   
-
 
Investment in PT Smelting and other
  
-
   
(1,463
)
Sale of restricted investments
  
-
   
21,804
 
Decrease in Atlantic Copper restricted cash
  
-
   
11,000
 
Net cash used in investing activities
  
(93,591
)
  
(77,065
)
Cash flow from financing activities:
        
Net proceeds from sale of senior notes
  
-
   
344,354
 
Proceeds from other debt
  
47,308
   
80,208
 
Repayments of debt
  
(447,808
)
  
(379,427
)
Redemption of preferred stock
  
(12,716
)
  
(13,664
)
Net proceeds from sale of convertible perpetual preferred stock
  
-
   
1,067,000
 
Purchase of FCX common shares from Rio Tinto
  
-
   
(881,868
)
Purchases of other FCX common shares
  
(80,227
)
  
(99,477
)
Cash dividends paid:
        
Common stock
  
(312,936
)
  
(109,406
)
Preferred stock
  
(45,376
)
  
(20,345
)
Minority interests
  
(104,773
)
  
(1,172
)
Net proceeds from exercised stock options
  
8,508
   
5,765
 
Bank credit facilities fees and other
  
(21
)
  
(1,561
)
Net cash used in financing activities
  
(948,041
)
  
(9,593
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
  
(158,605
)
  
(149,542
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
  
551,450
   
463,652
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
392,845
  
$
314,110
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
5

Table of Contents
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

1.   
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Deferred Mining Costs.In the mining industry, the costs of removing overburden and waste material to access mineral deposits are referred to as “stripping costs.” Currently, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) applies the deferred mining cost method in accounting for its post-production stripping costs, which FCX refers to as overburden removal costs. The deferred mining cost method is used by some companies in the metals mining industry; however, industry practice varies. The deferred mining cost method matches the cost of production with the sale of the related metal from the open pit by assigning each metric ton of ore removed an equivalent amount of overburden tonnage, thereby averaging overburden removal costs over the life of the mine. The mining cost capitalized in inventory and the amounts charged to cost of goods sold do not represent the actual costs incurred to mine the ore in any given period. The application of the deferred mining cost method has resulted in an asset on FCX’s balance sheets (“Deferred Mining Costs”) totaling $289.0 million at September 30, 2005, and $220.4 million at December 31, 2004. For further information, see Note 1 in FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In March 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-6, “Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred during Production in the Mining Industry,” (EITF 04-6) which requires that stripping costs be considered costs of the extracted minerals and recognized as a component of inventory to be recognized in cost of sales in the same period as the revenue from the sale of inventory. As a result, capitalization of stripping costs is appropriate only to the extent product inventory exists at the end of a reporting period. The guidance in EITF 04-6 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted. Companies may apply this guidance either by recognition of a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings in the period of adoption or by restating prior period financial statements. FCX expects to adopt the guidance on January 1, 2006, with the most significant impacts of adoption being the deferred mining costs asset on FCX’s balance sheet on that date will be recorded, net of taxes and minority interest share, as a cumulative effect adjustment to reduce beginning retained earnings and future stripping costs will effectively be charged to cost of sales as incurred. Adoption of the new guidance will have no impact on FCX’s cash flows. The pro forma impact of applying EITF 04-6 to the periods reported in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q would be to reduce net income by $7.9 million or $0.04 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2005, $14.5 million or $0.08 per share for the third quarter of 2004 and $36.0 million or $0.16 per diluted share for the 2005 nine-month period, and to increase the net loss by $42.5 million or $0.23 per share for the 2004 nine-month period. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what charges may be for future periods.

Stock-Based Payments.Refer to Note 1 in FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K for FCX’s accounting for share-based payments, including stock options. Through September 30, 2005, FCX has accounted for grants of employee stock options under the recognition principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, which require compensation costs for stock-based employee compensation plans to be recognized based on the difference on the date of grant, if any, between the quoted market price of the stock and the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. If FCX had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which requires stock-based compensation to be recognized based on the use of a fair value method, FCX’s net income would have been reduced by $3.2 million, $0.02 per basic share and no change in earnings per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2005, $1.5 million, $0.01 per share, for the third quarter of 2004 and $9.5 million, $0.05 per basic share and $0.03 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2005. FCX’s net loss for the first nine months of 2004 would have been increased by $3.7 million, $0.02 per share.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS No. 123R). SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. SFAS No. 123R’s effective date is fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. FCX is still reviewing the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and expects to adopt SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006. Based on currently outstanding employee stock options, FCX currently estimates the pro forma charge to earnings before taxes and minority interest sharing for the full year 2005 would total approximately $22 million, and the pro forma reduction in net income would be approximately $13 million, $0.07 per share using average basic shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2005. These 2005 pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what charges may be for future periods.
 
6

Table of Contents
 
2.   
EARNINGS PER SHARE
FCX basic net income (loss) per share of common stock was calculated by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss) and weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating diluted net income (loss) per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net income (loss) before preferred dividends
 
$
180,930
 
$
32,258
 
$
516,822
 
$
(25,363
)
Preferred dividends
  
(15,125
)
 
(15,125
)
 
(45,375
)
 
(30,366
)
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock
  
165,805
  
17,133
  
471,447
  
(55,729
)
Plus income impact of assumed conversion of:
             
5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock
  
15,125
  
-
  
45,375
  
-
 
7% Convertible Senior Notes
  
9,177
  
-
  
29,786
  
-
 
Diluted net income (loss) applicable to common stock
 
$
190,107
 
$
17,133
 
$
546,608
 
$
(55,729
)
              
Weighted average common shares outstanding
  
177,895
  
177,137
  
178,513
  
183,426
 
Add:
Shares issuable upon conversion of:
             
5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock
  
21,224
  
-
  
21,097
  
-
 
7% Convertible Senior Notes
  
18,410
  
-
  
18,553
  
-
 
Dilutive stock options
  
1,817
  
2,188
  
1,642
  
-
 
Restricted stock
  
478
  
480
  
480
  
-
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding for
             
purposes of calculating diluted net income (loss)
             
per share
  
219,824
  
179,805
  
220,285
  
183,426
 
              
Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock
 
$
0.86
 
$
0.10
 
$
2.48
 
$
(0.30
)
              
Stock options representing 2.3 million shares and unvested restricted stock representing 0.4 million shares in the 2004 nine-month period that otherwise would have been included in that period’s earnings per share calculation were excluded because of the net loss reported for the period.

Outstanding stock options with exercise prices greater than the average market price of the common stock during the period are excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share of common stock. FCX’s convertible instruments are also excluded when including the conversion of these instruments increases reported diluted net income per share or when FCX reports a net loss for the period. A recap of the excluded amounts follows (in thousands, except exercise prices):

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Weighted average outstanding options
-
 
1,161
 
1,821
 
1,169
 
Weighted average exercise price
-
 
$36.77
 
$36.98
 
$36.34
 
         
Dividends on 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock
-
 
$15,125
 
-
 
$30,418
a
Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion
-
 
20,682
 
-
 
13,936
a
         
Interest on 7% Convertible Senior Notes
-
 
$10,357
b
-
 
$31,072
b
Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion
-
 
18,625
 
-
 
18,625
 
         
Interest on 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes
N/A
 
$466
b
N/A
 
$3,829
b
Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion
N/A
 
1,364
 
N/A
 
4,097
 
         

a.  
FCX’s 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock was issued on March 30, 2004.
b.  
Amounts are net of the effective United States federal alternative minimum tax rate of two percent.
 
Stock-Based Compensation Plans.As of September 30, 2005, FCX has four stock-based employee compensation plans and two stock-based director compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note 7 of FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As discussed in Note 1, FCX accounts for options granted under all of its plans using the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations. Because all the plans require that the option exercise price be at least the market price on the date of grant, FCX recognizes no compensation expense on the grant or exercise of its employees’ and directors’ options. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if FCX had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, as discussed in Note 1 (in thousands, except per share amounts).

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock, as reported
 
$
165,805
 
$
17,133
 
$
471,447
 
$
(55,729
)
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense
             
included in reported net income (loss) for stock option
             
conversions, stock appreciation rights (SARs) and
             
restricted stock units, net of taxes and minority interests
  
4,675
  
2,252
  
9,132
  
2,626
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation
             
expense determined under fair value-based method for
             
all awards, net of taxes and minority interests
  
(7,892
)
 
(3,766
)
 
(18,646
)
 
(6,349
)
Pro forma net income (loss) applicable to common stock
 
$
162,588
 
$
15,619
 
$
461,933
 
$
(59,452
)
              
Earnings (loss) per share:
             
Basic - as reported
 
$
0.93
 
$
0.10
 
$
2.64
 
$
(0.30
)
Basic - pro forma
 
$
0.91
 
$
0.09
 
$
2.59
 
$
(0.32
)
              
Diluted - as reported
 
$
0.86
 
$
0.10
 
$
2.48
 
$
(0.30
)
Diluted - pro forma
 
$
0.86
 
$
0.09
 
$
2.45
 
$
(0.32
)
              

For the pro forma computations, the values of option grants were calculated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. No other discounts or restrictions related to vesting or the likelihood of vesting of stock options were applied. The following table summarizes the calculated average fair values and weighted-average assumptions used to determine the fair value of FCX’s stock option grants under SFAS No. 123 during the periods presented.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004a
 
2005
 
2004
 
Fair value per stock option
$
14.52
  
N/A
 
$
13.97
 
$
15.00
 
Risk-free interest rate
 
3.8
%
 
N/A
  
3.9
%
 
3.7
%
Expected volatility rate
 
45
%
 
N/A
  
46
%
 
49
%
Expected life of options (in years)
 
6
  
N/A
  
6
  
6
 
Assumed annual dividend
$
1.00
  
N/A
 
$
1.00
 
$
0.80
 

a.  
No options were granted in the third quarter of 2004.

See Note 1 above and Note 1 in FCX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of SFAS No. 123R.

3.   
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
FCX has two operating segments: “mining and exploration” and “smelting and refining.” The mining and exploration segment consists of FCX’s Indonesian activities including PT Freeport Indonesia’s copper and gold mining operations, PT Puncakjaya Power’s power-generating operations (after eliminations with PT Freeport Indonesia) and FCX’s Indonesian exploration activities. The smelting and refining segment includes Atlantic Copper’s operations in Spain and PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting in Gresik, Indonesia. The segment data presented below were prepared on the same basis as FCX’s consolidated financial statements.
 
8

Table of Contents

  
Mining
and Exploration
 
Smelting and Refining
 
Eliminations and Other
 
FCX Total
 
  
(In Thousands)
 
Three months ended September 30, 2005:
             
Revenues
 
$
771,190
a
$
378,412
 
$
(166,332
)
$
983,270
 
Production and delivery
  
247,001
  
351,517
  
(164,150
)b
 
434,368
 
Depreciation and amortization
  
51,143
  
7,415
  
3,088
  
61,646
 
Exploration expenses
  
2,099
  
-
  
60
  
2,159
 
General and administrative expenses
  
38,394
c
 
2,268
  
(15,116
)c
 
25,546
 
Operating income
 
$
432,553
 
$
17,212
 
$
9,786
 
$
459,551
 
Equity in PT Smelting earnings
 
$
-
 
$
1,315
 
$
-
 
$
1,315
 
Interest expense, net
 
$
5,342
 
$
4,140
 
$
23,848
 
$
33,330
 
Provision for income taxes
 
$
146,610
 
$
-
 
$
40,102
 
$
186,712
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
32,447
 
$
1,444
 
$
2,425
 
$
36,316
 
Total assets
 
$
3,889,800
d
$
723,149
e
$
264,832
 
$
4,877,781
 
              
Three months ended September 30, 2004:
             
Revenues
 
$
447,876
a
$
222,184
 
$
(69,504
)
$
600,556
 
Production and delivery
  
198,872
  
223,384
  
(54,240
)b
 
368,016
 
Depreciation and amortization
  
46,135
  
7,114
  
2,506
  
55,755
 
Exploration expenses
  
1,939
  
-
  
24
  
1,963
 
General and administrative expenses
  
21,451
c
 
3,248
  
1,487
c
 
26,186
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
179,479
 
$
(11,562
)
$
(19,281
)
$
148,636
 
Equity in PT Smelting earnings
 
$
-
 
$
2,678
 
$
-
 
$
2,678
 
Interest expense, net
 
$
5,133
 
$
3,300
 
$
29,415
 
$
37,848
 
Provision for income taxes
 
$
62,729
 
$
-
 
$
8,614
 
$
71,343
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
30,526
 
$
3,038
 
$
2
 
$
33,566
 
Total assets
 
$
3,713,690
d
$
723,839
e
$
345,535
 
$
4,783,064
 
              
Nine months ended September 30, 2005:
             
Revenues
 
$
2,136,974
a
$
982,425
 
$
(430,155
)
$
2,689,244
 
Production and delivery
  
664,234
  
937,003
  
(411,277
)b
 
1,189,960
 
Depreciation and amortization
  
142,285
  
21,645
  
8,801
  
172,731
 
Exploration expenses
  
6,263
  
-
  
158
  
6,421
 
General and administrative expenses
  
90,001
c
 
8,173
  
(25,635
)c
 
72,539
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
1,234,191
 
$
15,604
 
$
(2,202
)
$
1,247,593
 
Equity in PT Smelting earnings
 
$
-
 
$
6,473
 
$
-
 
$
6,473
 
Interest expense, net
 
$
16,966
 
$
12,332
 
$
76,872
 
$
106,170
 
Provision for income taxes
 
$
429,936
 
$
-
 
$
109,488
 
$
539,424
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
85,955
 
$
7,307
 
$
2,345
 
$
95,607
 
              
Nine months ended September 30, 2004:
             
Revenues
 
$
965,901
a
$
605,137
 
$
(123,963
)
$
1,447,075
 
Production and delivery
  
525,387
  
637,042
  
(147,122
)b
 
1,015,307
 
Depreciation and amortization
  
96,738
  
21,209
  
5,808
  
123,755
 
Exploration expenses
  
6,807
  
-
  
170
  
6,977
 
General and administrative expenses
  
114,802
c
 
9,344
  
(59,824
)c
 
64,322
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
222,167
 
$
(62,458
)
$
77,005
 
$
236,714
 
Equity in PT Smelting losses
 
$
-
 
$
228
 
$
-
 
$
228
 
Interest expense, net
 
$
16,346
 
$
10,071
 
$
84,160
 
$
110,577
 
Provision for income taxes
 
$
80,672
 
$
-
 
$
47,222
 
$
127,894
 
Capital expenditures
 
$
90,229
 
$
18,295
 
$
(118
)
$
108,406
 
              
 
a.  
Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting totaling $214.1 million in the 2005 quarter, $181.6 million in the 2004 quarter, $643.1 million in the 2005 nine-month period and $474.8 million in the 2004 nine-month period.
b.  
Includes deferral of intercompany profits on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting, for which the final sale to third parties has not occurred, totaling $3.1 million in the 2005 quarter, $0.5 million in the 2004 quarter, $3.1 million in the 2005 nine-month period and $2.5 million in the 2004 nine-month period.
c.  
Includes charges to the mining and exploration segment for the in-the-money value of FCX stock option exercises which are eliminated in consolidation totaling $16.7 million in the 2005 quarter, $2.4 million in the 2004 quarter, $34.1 million in the 2005 nine-month period and $69.3 million in the 2004 nine-month period.
d.  
Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s trade receivables with PT Smelting totaling $98.2 million at September 30, 2005, and $59.0 million at September 30, 2004.
e.  
Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting totaling $51.2 million at September 30, 2005, and $56.6 million at September 30, 2004.

4.   
INVENTORIES
The components of inventories follow (in thousands):
   
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
PT Freeport Indonesia:
Concentrates - Average cost
 
$
9,468
 
$
11,830
 
Atlantic Copper:
Concentrates - First in, first out (FIFO)
  
101,222
  
148,246
 
 
Work in process - FIFO
  
93,254
  
86,710
 
 
Finished goods - FIFO
  
1,127
  
6,479
 
Total product inventories
  
205,071
  
253,265
 
Total materials and supplies, net
  
244,960
  
213,447
 
Total inventories
 
$
450,031
 
$
466,712
 

The average cost method was used to determine the cost of essentially all materials and supplies inventory. Materials and supplies inventory is net of obsolescence reserves totaling $17.2 million at September 30, 2005 and $17.1 million at December 31, 2004.

5.   
DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS
As of September 30, 2005, FCX had total outstanding debt of $1.39 billion. Debt was reduced by $565.8 million during the first nine months of 2005, primarily reflecting the following transactions:

·  
first-quarter prepayment of $187.0 million of bank debt associated with PT Puncakjaya Power’s power-generating facilities at PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations;
·  
first-quarter purchases in open market transactions of $11.0 million of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2006 and 7.20% Senior Notes due 2026;
·  
third-quarter purchases in open market transactions of $149.9 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010 and $4.5 million of 7.5% Senior Notes due 2006; and
·  
third-quarter privately negotiated transactions to induce conversion of $188.4 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 into 6.1 million shares of FCX common stock.

FCX recorded net charges of $38.4 million, $30.3 million to net income or $0.14 per share, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 as a result of these transactions. On August 1, 2005, FCX funded the seventh of eight scheduled annual redemption payments on its Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $17.5 million. The mandatory redemption resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a reduction of revenues of $5.0 million, $2.6 million to net income or $0.01 per share, in the third quarter of 2005.

In October 2005, FCX induced conversion of an additional $21.0 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 into 0.7 million shares of FCX common stock and purchased in open market transactions an additional $18.4 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010. FCX expects to record a net charge of $4.4 million, $3.4 million to net income, in the fourth quarter of 2005 as a result of these transactions.
 
6.   
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The components of net periodic pension benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 follow (in thousands):

 
FCX
 
PT Freeport Indonesia
 
Atlantic Copper
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Service cost
$
180
 
$
213
 
$
850
 
$
810
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
Interest cost
 
480
  
901
  
888
  
812
  
1,199
  
1,266
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
(118
)
 
(300
)
 
(333
)
 
(441
)
 
-
  
-
 
Amortization of prior service cost
 
1,057
  
944
  
212
  
234
  
-
  
-
 
Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
-
  
-
  
168
  
69
  
224
  
223
 
Net periodic benefit cost
$
1,599
 
$
1,758
 
$
1,785
 
$
1,484
 
$
1,423
 
$
1,489
 

The components of net periodic pension benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 follow (in thousands):

 
FCX
 
PT Freeport Indonesia
 
Atlantic Copper
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Service cost
$
524
 
$
497
 
$
2,681
 
$
2,512
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
Interest cost
 
1,594
  
1,894
  
2,800
  
2,519
  
3,727
  
3,809
 
Expected return on plan assets
 
(374
)
 
(369
)
 
(1,052
)
 
(1,369
)
 
-
  
-
 
Amortization of prior service cost
 
3,020
  
2,832
  
668
  
725
  
-
  
-
 
Amortization of net actuarial loss
 
-
  
-
  
531
  
215
  
696
  
672
 
Net periodic benefit cost
$
4,764
 
$
4,854
 
$
5,628
 
$
4,602
 
$
4,423
 
$
4,481
 

7.   
INTEREST COST
Interest expense excludes capitalized interest of $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2005, $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2004, $2.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2004.

8.   
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
A summary of FCX’s comprehensive income is shown below (in thousands).

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
180,930
 
$
32,258
 
$
516,822
 
$
(25,363
)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
             
Change in unrealized derivatives’ fair value, net of taxes
             
of $1.8 million for the three months ended
             
September 30, 2005, $(0.9) million for the three months
             
ended September 30, 2004, $2.9 million for the nine
             
months ended September 30, 2005 and $(0.8) million for
             
the nine months ended September 30, 2004
  
(2,387
)
 
1,103
  
(3,732
)
 
989
 
Reclass to earnings, net of taxes of $0.2 million
             
for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and
             
none for the other periods
  
(20
)
 
319
  
(115
)
 
1,301
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
178,523
 
$
33,680
 
$
512,975
 
$
(23,073
)
              
9.   
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the first nine months of 2005 and 2004 was 11.1 to 1 and 2.0 to 1, respectively. For this calculation, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest and that portion of rent deemed representative of interest.

----------------------

The information furnished herein should be read in conjunction with FCX's financial statements contained in its 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods. All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature.



TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF
FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated March 9, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP


New Orleans, Louisiana
October 25, 2005

 
12

Table of Contents


OVERVIEW

In management’s discussion and analysis, “we,”“us” and “our” refer to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “aggregate” amounts mean the total of our share and Rio Tinto plc’s share as our joint venture partner. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our financial statements, the related discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the discussion of our “Business and Properties” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations reported and summarized below are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.

We operate through our majority-owned subsidiaries, PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Puncakjaya Power (Puncakjaya Power), and through Atlantic Copper, S.A. (Atlantic Copper) and PT Irja Eastern Minerals (Eastern Minerals), our principal wholly owned subsidiaries. PT Freeport Indonesia, our principal operating subsidiary, conducts exploration, mining and production activities in a 24,700-acre area called Block A located in Papua, Indonesia. PT Freeport Indonesia also conducts exploration activities (which are currently suspended, but are under review for resumption) in an approximate 500,000-acre area called Block B in Papua. Puncakjaya Power’s sole business is to supply power to PT Freeport Indonesia’s operations. Our principal asset is the Grasberg minerals district, which contains the largest single gold reserve and the second-largest copper reserve of any mine in the world.

Atlantic Copper’s operations are in Spain and involve the smelting and refining of copper concentrates and the marketing of refined copper and precious metals in slimes. PT Freeport Indonesia owns a 25 percent interest in PT Smelting, an Indonesian company which operates a copper smelter and refinery in Gresik, Indonesia. Eastern Minerals conducts mineral exploration activities (which are currently suspended) in Papua, Indonesia.

We own 90.64 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia, of which 9.36 percent is owned through our wholly owned subsidiary, PT Indocopper Investama. The Government of Indonesia owns the remaining 9.36 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia. In July 2004, we received a request from the Indonesian Department of Energy and Mineral Resources that we offer to sell shares in PT Indocopper Investama to Indonesian nationals at fair market value. In response to this request and in view of the potential benefits of having additional Indonesian ownership in our project, we have agreed to consider a potential sale of an interest in PT Indocopper Investama at fair market value. Neither our Contract of Work nor Indonesian law requires us to divest any portion of our ownership interest in PT Freeport Indonesia or PT Indocopper Investama.

Outlook
Annual sales are expected to approximate 1.47 billion pounds of copper and 2.8 million ounces of gold in 2005, increases of nearly 50 percent for copper and nearly 100 percent for gold compared with 2004. PT Freeport Indonesia expects its fourth-quarter operations to benefit from access to higher grade material and more flexible set-ups for its mining equipment in the high-grade areas of the Grasberg mine than in the third quarter, which we currently anticipate would allow PT Freeport Indonesia to generate sales estimated to approximate 480 million pounds of copper and 1.1 million ounces of gold, 39 percent more than third-quarter copper sales and more than twice the third quarter gold sales. Achieving this high level of production and sales is dependent, among other factors, on the successful operations of PT Freeport Indonesia production facilities and systems, and sales volumes could be reduced if year-end weather conditions or other factors delay concentrate loading operations, which would defer sales volumes to 2006.

Using estimated sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2005 and assuming average fourth-quarter 2005 prices of $1.75 per pound of copper and $465 per ounce of gold, we would generate operating cash flows approximating $1.4 billion in 2005, with approximately $500 million in the fourth quarter. Each $0.10 per pound change in copper prices in the fourth quarter is currently estimated to affect 2005 cash flows by approximately $24 million and each $25 per ounce change in gold prices is currently estimated to affect 2005 cash flows by approximately $14 million.

At the Grasberg mine, the sequencing in mining areas with varying ore grades causes fluctuations in the timing of ore production, which impacts sales volumes, particularly for gold. Based on its current mine plan, PT Freeport Indonesia estimates its share of sales for 2006 will approximate 1.4 billion pounds of copper and 1.9 million ounces of gold. Average annual sales volumes over the five-year period from 2005 through 2009 are expected to approximate 1.35 billion pounds of copper and 2.2 million ounces of gold.
 
13

 
Sales volumes may vary from these estimates depending on the areas being mined within the Grasberg open pit. Quarterly variations in sales volumes are expected to vary significantly. Based on current estimates of average annual sales volumes over the next five years and copper prices of approximately $1.75 per pound and gold prices of approximately $465 per ounce, the impact on our annual cash flow for each $0.10 per pound change in copper prices would approximate $69 million, including the effects of price changes on related royalty costs, and for each $25 per ounce change in gold prices would approximate $28 million.

Copper and Gold Markets
As shown in the graphs below, world metal prices for copper have fluctuated during the period from 1992 through October 2005 with the London Metal Exchange (LME) spot copper price varying from a low of approximately $0.60 per pound in 2001 to a high of $1.90 per pound on October 20, 2005, and world gold prices have fluctuated during the period from 1998 through October 2005 from a low of approximately $250 per ounce in 1999 to a high of approximately $479 per ounce on October 12, 2005. Copper and gold prices are affected by numerous factors beyond our control as described further in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

* Excludes Shanghai stocks, producer, consumer and merchant stocks.

The graph above presents LME spot copper prices and reported stocks of copper at the LME and New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) through October 31, 2005. Market fundamentals for copper continued to be positive in the first nine months of 2005. LME and COMEX inventories are at levels of less than 75,000 metric tons. Copper prices averaged $1.70 per pound in the third quarter of 2005, with prices ranging from $1.56 per pound to $1.80 per pound. The LME spot copper price closed at $1.86 per pound on October 31, 2005. Global copper demand in the first nine months of 2005 has been lower than expectations; however, disruptions associated with strikes and other operational issues have reduced copper supply and continue to keep inventories at very low levels. Many market analysts expect copper supplies to increase in the near term as smelter capacity is projected to increase and project lower than current prices once supplies begin to grow. Nevertheless, analysts’ price expectations for 2006 are generally higher than they were earlier in the year, partly because of the disruptions discussed above. Future copper prices are expected to continue to be determined by demand from China, economic performance in the United States (U.S.) and other industrialized countries, the timing of the development of new supplies of copper, production levels of mines and copper smelters and other factors. We consider the underlying supply and demand conditions in the global copper markets to be positive for our company.
 
14

Table of Contents
 

The environment for gold continues to be positive with gold prices recently reaching new 17-year highs supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions, investment demand for gold as a hedge against inflation, increasing jewelry demand, falling production for older mines, limited development of new mines and actions by gold producers to reduce hedge positions. Gold prices averaged $440 per ounce in the third quarter of 2005, with prices ranging from $418 per ounce to $473 per ounce. The London gold price closed at approximately $471 per ounce on October 31, 2005.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Summary comparative results for the third-quarter and nine-month periods follow (in millions, except per share amounts):

 
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues
$
983.3
 
$
600.6
 
$
2,689.2
 
$
1,447.1
 
Operating income
 
459.6
  
148.6
  
1,247.6
  
236.7
 
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock
 
165.8
  
17.1
  
471.4
  
(55.7
)
Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock
 
0.86
  
0.10
  
2.48
  
(0.30
)

Consolidated revenues include PT Freeport Indonesia’s sale of copper concentrates, which also contain significant quantities of gold, and the sale by Atlantic Copper of copper anodes, copper cathodes, and gold in anodes and slimes. Consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2005 and the first nine months of 2005 were significantly higher than consolidated revenues for the 2004 periods, reflecting substantially higher copper and gold sales volumes and prices than the 2004 periods. Third-quarter and nine-month 2004 results were adversely affected by lower ore grades and reduced mill throughput as PT Freeport Indonesia completed efforts to restore safe access to the higher-grade ore areas in its Grasberg open-pit mine following the fourth-quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events. In addition, Atlantic Copper’s scheduled major maintenance turnaround adversely affected its nine-month 2004 revenues.

At September 30, 2005, we had consolidated embedded derivatives on copper sales totaling 298.6 million pounds recorded at an average price of $1.74 per pound. Final prices on these sales will be established over the next several months pursuant to terms of sales contracts. We estimate that a two-cent change in the average price used for these embedded derivatives and realized prices for these sales would have an approximate $6 million impact on our 2005 consolidated revenues and an approximate $3 million impact on our 2005 consolidated net income.

Third-quarter 2005 consolidated revenues included net additions of $48.8 million ($25.9 million to net income or $0.12 per share) primarily for final pricing of concentrates sold in prior quarters, compared with $13.6 million ($7.0 million to net income or $0.04 per share) to third-quarter 2004 revenues. Nine-month 2005 consolidated revenues included net additions of $8.6 million ($4.5 million to net income or $0.02 per share) compared with $7.3 million ($3.7 million to net income or $0.02 per share), primarily for final pricing of concentrates sold in prior years.

Consolidated revenues and net income vary significantly with fluctuations in the market prices of copper and gold and other factors. Based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s projected share of copper sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 (480 million pounds) and assuming an average price of $1.75 per pound of copper, each $0.10 per pound change in the average price realized in the fourth quarter of 2005 would have an approximate $48 million impact on our fourth-quarter revenues and an approximate $24 million impact on our fourth-quarter net income. A $25 per ounce change in the average price realized in the fourth quarter on PT Freeport Indonesia’s projected share of gold sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 (1.1 million ounces) would have an approximate $28 million impact on our fourth-quarter revenues and an approximate $14 million impact on our fourth-quarter net income.

On limited past occasions, in response to market conditions, we have entered into copper and gold price protection contracts for a portion of our expected future mine production to mitigate the risk of adverse price fluctuations. We currently have no copper or gold price protection contracts relating to our mine production. We have outstanding gold-denominated and silver-denominated preferred stock with dividends and redemption amounts determined by commodity prices. Our gold-denominated preferred stock is mandatorily redeemable in February 2006 and the final scheduled redemption for our silver-denominated preferred stock is in August 2006 (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financing Activities”).

Consolidated production and delivery costs were higher for the 2005 periods than the 2004 periods primarily because of higher production costs at PT Freeport Indonesia and higher costs of concentrate purchases at Atlantic Copper caused by increased production volumes and higher metals prices. Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense increased to $61.6 million in the third quarter of 2005 and $172.7 million in the first nine months of 2005, compared with $55.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $123.8 million in the first nine months of 2004, primarily because of higher copper sales volumes at PT Freeport Indonesia during the 2005 periods. Exploration expenses totaled $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2005 and $6.4 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared with $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $7.0 million in the first nine months of 2004 (see “Mining and Exploration - Exploration Activities”). Consolidated general and administrative expenses decreased to $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2005 from $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 and increased to $72.5 million in the first nine months of 2005 from $64.3 million in the first nine months of 2004 (see “Other Financial Results”).

Net interest expense decreased to $33.3 million in the third quarter of 2005 from $37.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 primarily because of lower debt levels. Losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt totaled $38.4 million ($30.3 million to net income or $0.14 per share, net of related reduction of interest expense), for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 resulting from the open-market purchases of our 10⅛% Senior Notes and 7.5% Senior Notes and the early conversions of our 7% Convertible Senior Notes (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financing Activities”). Losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt totaled $14.0 million ($7.4 million to net income or $0.04 per share, net of related reduction of interest expense), for the first nine months of 2004 resulting primarily from the early conversions of our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financing Activities”).

Other income includes interest income of $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2005, $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2004, $11.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $4.2 million in the first nine months of 2004. Other income also includes the impact of translating into U.S. dollars Atlantic Copper’s net euro-denominated liabilities, primarily its retiree pension obligations. Changes in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate require us to adjust the dollar value of our net euro-denominated liabilities and record the adjustment in earnings. The exchange rate was $1.36 per euro at December 31, 2004, $1.21 per euro at June 30, 2005 and $1.20 per euro at September 30, 2005. Exchange rate effects on our net income from euro-denominated liabilities were gains (losses) of $(1.3) million in the third quarter of 2005, $(0.8) million in the third quarter of 2004, $4.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2004.
 
16

 
PT Freeport Indonesia’s Contract of Work provides for a 35 percent corporate income tax rate. PT Indocopper Investama pays a 30 percent corporate income tax on dividends it receives from its 9.36 percent ownership in PT Freeport Indonesia. In addition, the tax treaty between Indonesia and the U.S. provides for a withholding tax rate of 10 percent on dividends and interest that PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Indocopper Investama pay to their parent company, FCX. Prior to 2005, we also incurred a U.S. alternative minimum tax at an effective rate of two percent based primarily on consolidated income, net of smelting and refining results. As a result of the enactment of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, the 90 percent limitation on the use of foreign tax credits to offset the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax liability has been repealed effective January 1, 2005. The removal of this limitation will reduce our U.S. federal taxes beginning in 2005. In 2004, our U.S. federal alternative minimum tax liability totaled $8.2 million. We currently record no income taxes at Atlantic Copper, which is subject to taxation in Spain, because it has not generated significant taxable income in recent years and has substantial tax loss carryforwards for which we have provided no financial statement benefit. We receive no consolidated tax benefit from these losses because they cannot be used to offset PT Freeport Indonesia’s profits in Indonesia.

Parent company costs consist primarily of interest, depreciation and amortization, and general and administrative expenses. We receive minimal tax benefit from these costs, including interest expense, primarily because our parent company generates no taxable income from U.S. sources. As a result, our provision for income taxes as a percentage of our consolidated income before income taxes and minority interests will vary as PT Freeport Indonesia’s income changes, absent changes in Atlantic Copper and parent company costs. Summaries of the approximate significant components of the calculation of our consolidated provision for income taxes are shown below (in thousands, except percentages).

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Mining and exploration segment operating incomea
$
449,248
 
$
181,896
 
$
1,268,335
 
$
291,427
 
Mining and exploration segment interest expense, net
 
(5,342
)
 
(5,133
)
 
(16,966
)
 
(16,346
)
Intercompany operating profit (deferred) recognized
 
(1,904
)
 
(15,056
)
 
(17,124
)
 
23,563
 
Income before taxes
 
442,002
  
161,707
  
1,234,245
  
298,644
 
Indonesian corporate income tax rate (35%) plus U.S.
            
alternative minimum tax rate (2%) for 2004
 
35
%
 
37
%
 
35
%
 
37
%
Corporate income taxes
 
154,701
  
59,832
  
431,986
  
110,498
 
             
Approximate PT Freeport Indonesia net income
 
287,301
  
101,875
  
802,259
  
188,146
 
Withholding tax on FCX’s equity share
 
9.064
%
 
9.064
%
 
9.064
%
 
9.064
%
Withholding taxes
 
26,041
  
9,234
  
72,717
  
17,054
 
             
PT Indocopper Investama corporate income tax
 
9,840
  
3,005
  
30,921
  
3,005
 
Other, net
 
(3,870
)
 
(728
)
 
3,800
  
(2,663
)
FCX consolidated provision for income taxes
$
186,712
 
$
71,343
 
$
539,424
 
$
127,894
 
             
FCX consolidated effective tax rate
 
48
%
 
63
%
 
48
%
 
b
 
             
a.  
Excludes charges for the in-the-money value of FCX stock option exercises, which are eliminated in consolidation, totaling $16.7 million for the 2005 quarter, $2.4 million for the 2004 quarter, $34.1 million for the 2005 nine-month period and $69.3 million for the 2004 nine-month period.
b.  
Rate is not meaningful given the small amount of consolidated income before taxes and minority interests for the 2004 nine-month period.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We have two operating segments: “mining and exploration” and “smelting and refining.” The mining and exploration segment consists of our Indonesian activities including PT Freeport Indonesia’s copper and gold mining operations, Puncakjaya Power’s power generating operations (after eliminations with PT Freeport Indonesia) and our Indonesian exploration activities, including those of Eastern Minerals. The smelting and refining segment includes Atlantic Copper’s operations in Spain and PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting. Summary comparative operating income (loss) data by segment follow (in millions):
 
17

Table of Contents
 
 
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Mining and explorationa
$
432.6
 
$
179.5
 
$
1,234.2
 
$
222.2
 
Smelting and refining
 
17.2
  
(11.6
)
 
15.6
  
(62.5
)
Intercompany eliminations and othera, b
 
9.8
  
(19.3
)
 
(2.2
)
 
77.0
 
FCX operating income
$
459.6
 
$
148.6
 
$
1,247.6
 
$
236.7
 
             
a.  
Includes charges to the mining and exploration segment for the in-the-money value of FCX stock option exercises, which are eliminated in consolidation, totaling $16.7 million in the 2005 quarter, $2.4 million in the 2004 quarter, $34.1 million for the 2005 nine-month period and $69.3 million for the 2004 nine-month period.
b.  
We defer recognizing profits on PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to Atlantic Copper and on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting until their sales of final products to third parties. Changes in the amount of these deferred profits impacted operating income by $(1.9) million in the third quarter of 2005, $(15.1) million in the third quarter of 2004, $(17.1) million in the first nine months of 2005 and $23.6 million in the first nine months of 2004. Our consolidated earnings can fluctuate materially depending on the timing and prices of these sales. At September 30, 2005, our deferred profits to be recognized in future periods’ operating income totaled $98.0 million, $52.0 million to net income, after taxes and minority interest sharing.

MINING AND EXPLORATION

PT Freeport Indonesia Operating Results

   
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
PT Freeport Indonesia Operating Data, Net of Rio Tinto’s Interest
      
Copper (recoverable)
          
Production (000s of pounds)
  
344,500
 
256,400
 
982,400
 
572,800
 
Production (metric tons)
  
156,300
 
116,300
 
445,600
 
259,800
 
Sales (000s of pounds)
  
346,300
 
261,900
 
988,100
 
572,400
 
Sales (metric tons)
  
157,100
 
118,800
 
448,200
 
259,600
 
Average realized price per pound
  
$1.73
 
$1.34
 
$1.67
 
$1.31
 
Gold (recoverable ounces)
          
Production
  
472,100
 
337,000
 
1,672,800
 
827,200
 
Sales
  
475,000
 
350,000
 
1,686,700
 
824,900
 
Average realized price per ounce
  
$445.79
 
$398.89
 
$431.88
 
$396.33
 
           
PT Freeport Indonesia, 100% Aggregate Operating Data
        
Ore milled (metric tons per day)
  
216,300
 
194,000
 
209,200
 
170,100
 
Average ore grade
          
Copper (percent)
  
1.06
 
.83
 
1.06
 
.73
 
Gold (grams per metric ton)
  
1.16
 
.79
 
1.40
 
.73
 
Recovery rates (percent)
          
Copper
  
87.8
 
87.8
 
88.3
 
87.1
 
Gold
  
80.6
 
81.3
 
82.5
 
81.4
 
Copper (recoverable)
          
Production (000s of pounds)
  
394,700
 
275,900
 
1,134,200
 
623,800
 
Production (metric tons)
  
179,100
 
125,200
 
514,500
 
283,000
 
Sales (000s of pounds)
  
396,600
 
282,000
 
1,140,500
 
622,900
 
Sales (metric tons)
  
179,900
 
127,900
 
517,300
 
282,500
 
Gold (recoverable ounces)
          
Production
  
590,700
 
358,600
 
2,082,000
 
873,500
 
Sales
  
594,400
 
372,300
 
2,096,200
 
872,000
 

 
18

 
Third-quarter sales of 346.3 million pounds of copper and 475,000 ounces of gold were lower than previous estimates of 380 million pounds and 575,000 ounces. Third quarter mining activities included the mining of overburden and low-grade material that will enable large-scale production of high-grade ore during the fourth quarter and the subsequent continuation of the previously announced long-term mine plan for the Grasberg operations, resulting in reduced mining rates in the “6 South” high grade section of the Grasberg open pit and lower than expected ore grades. Production was also affected by an extension to a planned maintenance shutdown of one of PT Freeport Indonesia’s semi-autogenous grinding mills. PT Freeport Indonesia expects fourth quarter operations will benefit from more flexible mining set-ups and access to higher grade material, allowing PT Freeport Indonesia to offset the third quarter shortfall substantially. Fourth-quarter sales are expected to approximate 480 million pounds of copper and 1.1 million ounces of gold.

Mill throughput, which varies depending on ore types being processed, averaged 216,300 metric tons of ore per day in the third quarter of 2005, 194,000 metric tons of ore in the third quarter of 2004, 209,200 metric tons of ore in the first nine months of 2005 and 170,100 metric tons of ore in the first nine months of 2004. Mill rates in the third quarter of 2005 were negatively affected by mill maintenance activities as discussed above. Mill rates are projected to average in excess of 220,000 metric tons of ore per day during the fourth quarter of 2005. Approximate average daily throughput processed at our mill facilities from each of our producing mines follows (metric tons of ore per day):

 
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Grasberg open pit
174,500
 
150,800
 
167,200
 
125,400
 
Deep Ore Zone underground mine
41,800
 
43,200
 
42,000
 
44,700
 
Total mill throughput
216,300
 
194,000
 
209,200
 
170,100
 

Third-quarter 2005 copper ore grades averaged 1.06 percent, compared with 0.83 percent for the third quarter of 2004. Third-quarter 2005 copper recovery rates were 87.8 percent, approximating the year-ago period. For the third quarter of 2005, gold ore grades averaged 1.16 grams per metric ton (g/t), compared with 0.79 g/t for the third quarter of 2004. Gold recovery rates averaged 80.6 percent for the third quarter of 2005, compared with 81.3 percent for the third quarter of 2004. The 2005 grades reflect the return to normal mining operations at Grasberg, including accessing higher grade material in accordance with our mine plan.

Production from the Deep Ore Zone (DOZ) underground mine averaged 41,800 metric tons of ore per day in the third quarter of 2005, representing 19 percent of mill throughput as it continued to perform above design capacity of 35,000 metric tons of ore per day. PT Freeport Indonesia is expanding the capacity of the DOZ underground operation to a sustained rate of 50,000 metric tons per day with the installation of a second crusher and additional ventilation, which are expected to be completed by 2007. PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of capital expenditures for the DOZ expansion totaled $9.2 million in the first nine months of 2005 and is expected to approximate $37 million through the projected 2007 ramp-up, with approximately $7.5 million estimated for the fourth quarter of 2005. The DOZ mine, a block cave operation, is one of the world’s largest underground mines.

In 2004, PT Freeport Indonesia commenced its “Common Infrastructure” project, which will provide access to its large undeveloped underground ore bodies located in the Grasberg minerals district through a tunnel system located approximately 400 meters deeper than its existing underground tunnel system. PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of capital expenditures for its Common Infrastructure project totaled $13.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 and is estimated to total approximately $5 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. The Common Infrastructure project is progressing according to plan.

PT Freeport Indonesia is also proceeding with plans to develop Big Gossan, a high-grade deposit located near the existing milling complex. Our Board of Directors has approved this project and aggregate capital expenditures from 2006 to 2009 for Big Gossan are expected to total approximately $225 million ($195 million net to PT Freeport Indonesia, with approximately $50 million in 2006). Production is expected to ramp up to 7,000 metric tons per day by 2010 (average annual aggregate incremental production of 135 million pounds of copper and 65,000 ounces of gold, with PT Freeport Indonesia receiving 60 percent of these amounts). The Big Gossan mine is expected to be an open-stope mine with cemented backfill, which is a higher-cost mining method than the block-cave method used at the DOZ mine.
 
 
PT Freeport Indonesia Revenues

A summary of changes in PT Freeport Indonesia revenues between the periods follows (in millions):
 
 
Third
 
Nine
 
 
Quarter
 
Months
 
PT Freeport Indonesia revenues - prior year period
$
447.9
 
$
965.9
 
Sales volumes:
      
Copper
 
113.1
  
545.0
 
Gold
 
49.9
  
341.5
 
Price realizations:
      
Copper
 
134.3
  
358.7
 
Gold
 
22.3
  
60.0
 
Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales
 
46.1
  
(1.5
)
Treatment charges, royalties and other
 
(42.4
)
 
(132.6
)
PT Freeport Indonesia revenues - current year period
$
771.2
 
$
2,137.0
 
       
PT Freeport Indonesia achieved significantly higher production and sales volumes in the 2005 periods compared with the 2004 periods, reflecting higher ore grades and milling rates than the 2004 periods. Copper sales volumes totaled 346.3 million pounds in the third quarter of 2005, 32 percent higher than the 261.9 million pounds reported in the third quarter of 2004. Third-quarter 2005 copper price realizations of $1.73 per pound were $0.39 per pound higher than the third-quarter 2004 realizations of $1.34 per pound. Gold sales volumes totaled 475,000 ounces in the third quarter of 2005, 36 percent higher than the 350,000 ounces reported in the third quarter of 2004. Gold price realizations of $445.79 per ounce in the third quarter of 2005 were nearly $47 an ounce higher than third-quarter 2004 realizations of $398.89 per ounce. For the nine-month periods, copper sales volumes totaled 988.1 million pounds in 2005, nearly 73 percent more than the 572.4 million pounds in 2004, and gold sales volumes totaled 1,686,700 ounces, more than double the 824,900 ounces in 2004. Copper price realizations of $1.67 per pound in the first nine months of 2005 were $0.36 per pound higher than the 2004 period realizations of $1.31 per pound. Gold price realizations of $431.88 per ounce in the first nine months of 2005 were almost $36 an ounce higher than 2004 period realizations of $396.33 per ounce.

Treatment charges vary with the volume of metals sold and the price of copper, and royalties vary with the volume of metals sold and the prices of copper and gold. In addition, treatment charges vary based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s customer mix as sales to PT Smelting are subject to a minimum rate (see below). Market rates for treatment and refining charge rates began to increase significantly in late 2004, and PT Freeport Indonesia expects its average 2005 rate to slightly exceed its average 2004 rate. Royalties totaled $20.3 million in the third quarter of 2005 and $56.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 compared with $11.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $24.3 million in the first nine months of 2004, reflecting higher sales volumes and metal prices.

Substantially all of PT Freeport Indonesia’s concentrate sales contracts provide final copper pricing in a specified future period based on prices quoted on the LME. PT Freeport Indonesia records revenues and invoices its customers based on LME prices at the time of shipment. Under accounting rules, these terms create an “embedded derivative” in our concentrate sales contracts which must be adjusted to fair value through earnings each period until the date of final copper pricing. PT Freeport Indonesia’s third-quarter 2005 revenues include net additions of $74.7 million for adjustments to the fair value of embedded copper derivatives in concentrate sales contracts, compared with $41.8 million in the third quarter of 2004. PT Freeport Indonesia’s nine-month 2005 revenues included net additions of $96.8 million for adjustments to the fair value of embedded derivatives in concentrate sales contracts, compared with $41.0 million in the 2004 period.

PT Freeport Indonesia expects its share of sales to approximate 1.47 billion pounds of copper and 2.8 million ounces of gold for 2005. PT Freeport Indonesia expects its fourth-quarter operations to benefit from access to higher grade material and more flexible set-ups for its mining equipment in the high-grade areas of the Grasberg mine than in the third quarter, which we currently anticipate would allow PT Freeport Indonesia to generate sales estimated to approximate 480 million pounds of copper and 1.1 million ounces of gold, 39 percent more than third-quarter copper sales and more than twice the third quarter gold sales. Achieving this high level of production and sales is dependent, among other factors, on the successful operations of PT Freeport Indonesia production facilities and systems, and sales volumes could be reduced if year-end weather conditions or other factors delay concentrate loading operations, which would defer sales volumes to 2006.
PT Freeport Indonesia has long-term contracts to provide approximately 60 percent of Atlantic Copper’s copper concentrate requirements at market prices and nearly all of PT Smelting’s copper concentrate requirements. Under the PT Smelting contract, for the first 15 years of PT Smelting’s operations beginning December 1998, the treatment and refining charges on the majority of the concentrate PT Freeport Indonesia provides will not fall below specified minimum rates, subject to renegotiation in 2008. The rate was $0.23 per pound during the period from the commencement of PT Smelting’s operations in 1998 until April 2004, when it declined to a minimum of $0.21 per pound. Market rates for 2005, excluding price participation, under long-term contracts settled in late 2004 approximate $0.21 per pound. Including price participation at current copper prices of approximately $1.86 per pound, PT Smelting’s rates exceed the minimum $0.21 per pound (see “Smelting and Refining”).

PT Freeport Indonesia Costs

Gross profit (loss) per pound of copper (¢)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):
    
Three Months Ended September 30, 2005
            
Pounds of copper sold (000s)
 
346,300
  
346,300
       
Ounces of gold sold
       
475,000
    
Ounces of silver sold
          
1,065,500
 
       
  
By-Product
  
Co-Product Method
 
  
Method
  
Copper
  
Gold
  
Silver
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
 
172.8
¢
 
172.8
¢
 
$445.79
  
$5.25
 
             
Site production and delivery, before net non-
            
cash and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
70.6
a
 
51.7
b
 
133.52
b
 
2.09
b
Gold and silver credits
 
(62.9
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
24.9
  
18.2
  
47.06
  
0.74
 
Royalty on metals
 
5.9
  
4.3
  
11.11
  
0.17
 
Unit net cash costsc
 
38.5
  
74.2
  
191.69
  
3.00
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
14.8
  
10.8
  
27.92
  
0.44
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
0.7
  
0.5
  
1.35
  
0.02
 
Total unit costs
 
54.0
  
85.5
  
220.96
  
3.46
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing
            
on prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
17.8
  
19.3
  
(2.90
)
 
(2.95
)
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(0.9
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(1.69
)
 
(0.03
)
Gross profit (loss) per pound/ounce
 
135.7
¢
 
105.9
¢
 
$220.24
  
$(1.19
)
             
Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
            
Pounds of copper sold (000s)
 
261,900
  
261,900
       
Ounces of gold sold
       
350,000
    
Ounces of silver sold
          
837,800
 
       
  
By-Product
  
Co-Product Method
 
  
Method
  
Copper
  
Gold
  
Silver
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
 
134.0
¢
 
134.0
¢
 
$398.89
  
$5.25
 
             
Site production and delivery, before net non-
            
cash and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
75.1
d
 
53.0
e
 
158.95
e
 
2.49
e
Gold and silver credits
 
(55.4
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
19.6
  
13.9
  
41.52
  
0.65
 
Royalty on metals
 
4.4
  
3.1
  
9.38
  
0.15
 
Unit net cash costsc
 
43.7
  
70.0
  
209.85
  
3.29
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
17.6
  
12.4
  
37.29
  
0.58
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
0.9
  
0.6
  
1.81
  
0.03
 
Total unit costs
 
62.2
  
83.0
  
248.95
  
3.90
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing
            
on prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
5.7
  
6.1
  
0.89
  
(0.70
)
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.42
)
 
(0.01
)
Gross profit per pound/ounce
 
77.3
¢
 
57.0
¢
 
$150.41
  
$0.64
 
             
 
a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $15.8 million or 4.6¢ per pound. Upon adoption of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 04-6 (EITF 04-6) (see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), mining costs will no longer be deferred.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $11.6 million or 3.3¢ per pound for copper, $4.1 million or $8.63 per ounce for gold and $0.1 million or $0.14 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.
c.   
For a reconciliation of unit net cash costs to production and delivery costs applicable to sales reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements refer to “Product Revenues and Production Costs” below.
d.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $23.7 million or 9.0¢ per pound. See Note a above.
e.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $16.7 million or 6.4¢ per pound for copper, $6.7 million or $19.14 per ounce for gold and $0.3 million or $0.30 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.

Gross profit per pound of copper (¢)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):
    
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005
            
Pounds of copper sold (000s)
 
988,100
  
988,100
       
Ounces of gold sold
       
1,686,700
    
Ounces of silver sold
          
3,393,500
 
       
  
By-Product
  
Co-Product Method
 
  
Method
  
Copper
  
Gold
  
Silver
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
 
167.4
¢
 
167.4
¢
 
$431.88
  
$5.59
 
             
Site production and delivery, before net non-
            
cash and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
66.7
a
 
45.9
b
 
117.63
b
 
1.93
b
Gold and silver credits
 
(75.8
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
22.8
  
15.7
  
40.26
  
0.66
 
Royalty on metals
 
5.8
  
4.0
  
10.15
  
0.17
 
Unit net cash costsc
 
19.5
  
65.6
  
168.04
  
2.76
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
14.4
  
9.9
  
25.40
  
0.42
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
0.5
  
0.4
  
0.94
  
0.02
 
Total unit costs
 
34.4
  
75.9
  
194.38
  
3.20
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing
            
on prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
1.6
  
2.1
  
(1.80
)
 
0.01
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.56
)
 
(0.01
)
Gross profit per pound/ounce
 
134.3
¢
 
93.4
¢
 
$235.14
  
$2.39
 
             
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
            
Pounds of copper sold (000s)
 
572,400
  
572,400
       
Ounces of gold sold
       
824,900
    
Ounces of silver sold
          
2,216,000
 
       
  
By-Product
  
Co-Product Method
 
  
Method
  
Copper
  
Gold
  
Silver
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
 
131.1
¢
 
131.1
¢
 
$396.33
  
$5.54
 
             
Site production and delivery, before net non-
            
cash and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
90.9
d
 
62.6
e
 
188.09
e
 
2.99
e
Gold and silver credits
 
(59.6
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
20.7
  
14.3
  
42.94
  
0.68
 
Royalty on metals
 
4.2
  
2.9
  
8.80
  
0.14
 
Unit net cash costsc
 
56.2
  
79.8
  
239.83
  
3.81
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
16.9
  
11.6
  
34.98
  
0.56
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
0.9
  
0.6
  
1.88
  
0.03
 
Total unit costs
 
74.0
  
92.0
  
276.69
  
4.40
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing
            
on prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
2.9
  
3.2
  
0.35
  
0.12
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(0.4
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.89
)
 
(0.01
)
Gross profit per pound/ounce
 
59.6
¢
 
42.0
¢
 
$119.10
  
$1.25
 
             
 
a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $68.6 million or 6.9¢ per pound. Upon adoption of EITF 04-6 (see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), mining costs will no longer be deferred.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $47.3 million or 4.8¢ per pound for copper, $20.7 million or $12.25 per ounce for gold and $0.7 million or $0.20 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.
c.   
For a reconciliation of unit net cash costs to production and delivery costs applicable to sales reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements refer to “Product Revenues and Production Costs” below.
d.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $81.4 million or 14.2¢ per pound. See Note a above.
e.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $56.1 million or 9.8¢ per pound for copper, $24.3 million or $29.43 per ounce for gold and $1.0 million or $0.47 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.

Unit Net Cash Cost
We present gross profit per pound of copper using both a “by-product” method and a “co-product” method. We use the by-product method in our presentation of gross profit per pound of copper because (1) the majority of our revenues are copper revenues, (2) we produce and sell one product, concentrates, which contains all three metals, (3) it is not possible to specifically assign our costs to revenues from the copper, gold and silver we produce in concentrates, (4) it is the method used to compare mining operations in certain industry publications and (5) it is the method used by our management and our Board to monitor our operations. In the co-product method presentation, costs are allocated to the different products based on their relative revenue values, which will vary to the extent our metals sales volumes and realized prices change.

Because of the fixed nature of a large portion of our costs, unit costs vary significantly from period to period depending on volumes of copper and gold sold during the period. In addition, we have experienced significant increases in our production costs in recent years primarily as a result of higher energy costs and costs of other consumables, changes in currency exchange rates, higher mining costs and milling rates, labor costs and other factors. Our energy costs, which approximate 20 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s production costs, primarily include 100 million gallons per year of diesel and 650,000 metric tons per year of coal. Diesel prices have risen by more than 100 percent since 2002 and our coal costs are approximately 40 percent higher. The costs of other consumables, including steel and reagents also have increased. Our costs have been affected by the stronger Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar (approximately 40 percent increase since the beginning of 2003), which comprise approximately 18 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s production costs. We are pursuing cost reduction initiatives to mitigate the impacts of these increases.

Lower unit site production and delivery costs in the 2005 periods reflected significantly higher sales volumes resulting from higher ore grades and the primarily fixed nature of a large portion of PT Freeport Indonesia’s cost structure. Unit site production and delivery costs are net of deferred mining costs, which will no longer be deferred and are expected to be charged to cost of sales as incurred upon adoption of EITF 04-6 (see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and “New Accounting Standards” below). PT Freeport Indonesia’s third-quarter 2005 overburden-to-ore ratio averaged 3.1 to 1, compared with a life-of-mine average ratio of 2.4 to 1. PT Freeport Indonesia’s overburden-to-ore ratio is expected to average approximately 2.8 to 1 in the fourth quarter.

Unit treatment charges vary with the price of copper, and royalty rates vary with prices of copper and gold. In addition, treatment charges vary based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s customer mix. The copper royalty rate payable by PT Freeport Indonesia under its Contract of Work varies from 1.5 percent of copper net revenue at a copper price of $0.90 or less per pound to 3.5 percent at a copper price of $1.10 or more per pound. The Contract of Work royalty rate for gold and silver sales is 1.0 percent.

In connection with our fourth concentrator mill expansion completed in 1998, PT Freeport Indonesia agreed to pay the Government of Indonesia additional royalties (royalties not required by the Contract of Work) to provide further support to the local governments and the people of the Indonesian province of Papua (see Note 1 in FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K). The additional royalties are paid on metal from production from PT Freeport Indonesia’s milling facilities above 200,000 metric tons of ore per day. PT Freeport Indonesia’s royalty rate on copper net revenues from production above 200,000 metric tons of ore per day is double the Contract of Work royalty rate, and the royalty rates on gold and silver sales from production above 200,000 metric tons of ore per day are triple the Contract of Work royalty rates.
 
23

Table of Contents
 
As a result of higher projected copper and gold sales volumes, we expect our total 2005 royalty costs to increase compared with 2004 royalty costs of $43.5 million. If copper prices average $1.75 per pound and gold prices average $465 per ounce during the fourth quarter of 2005, we would expect royalty costs to total approximately $100 million ($0.07 per pound of copper) for 2005, including approximately $17 million for the additional royalties. These estimates assume 2005 sales volumes of 1.47 billion pounds of copper and 2.8 million ounces of gold.

As a result of the higher copper production and sales volumes in the 2005 periods, PT Freeport Indonesia’s unit depreciation rate decreased compared with the 2004 periods. Because certain assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis, the unit rate will vary with the level of copper production and sales.

PT Freeport Indonesia has a labor agreement covering its hourly paid Indonesian employees, the key provisions of which are renegotiated biannually. The labor agreement was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2005. In June 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia and its workers agreed to terms for a new labor agreement that expires in September 2007. PT Freeport Indonesia’s relations with the workers’ union have generally been satisfactory.

Unit Net Cash Cost: By-Product Method
Unit net cash costs per pound of copper calculated using a by-product method is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the cash generating capacity of our mining operations expressed on a basis relating to our primary metal product, copper. PT Freeport Indonesia uses this measure for the same purpose and for monitoring operating performance by its mining operations. This information differs from measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This measure is presented by other copper and gold mining companies, although our measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Unit site production and delivery costs in the third quarter of 2005 averaged $0.71 per pound of copper, $0.04 per pound lower than the $0.75 reported in the third quarter of 2004. Unit site production and delivery costs in the first nine months of 2005 averaged $0.67 per pound of copper, $0.24 per pound lower than the $0.91 reported in the third quarter of 2004. Unit site production and delivery costs in the 2005 periods benefited from higher copper sales volumes resulting from higher ore grades, but were adversely affected by higher energy costs and costs of other consumables, higher mining costs and milling rates, labor costs and other factors.

Gold and silver credits averaged $0.63 per pound in the third quarter of 2005 and $0.76 per pound in the first nine months of 2005, compared with $0.55 per pound in the third quarter of 2004 and $0.60 per pound in the first nine months of 2004. The increases reflect higher gold sales volumes and average realized prices. Treatment charges increased to $0.25 per pound in the third quarter of 2005 from $0.20 per pound in the third quarter of 2004, and to $0.23 per pound in the first nine months of 2005 from $0.21 in the first nine months of 2004 primarily because of higher copper prices and higher treatment rates. Royalties of $0.06 per pound in the 2005 periods were almost $0.02 per pound above the year-ago periods primarily because of higher copper and gold prices and sales volumes.

Assuming fourth-quarter 2005 average prices of $1.75 per pound for copper and $465 per ounce for gold, and copper and gold sales of 1.47 billion pounds and 2.8 million ounces for 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia estimates that its annual 2005 unit net cash costs, including gold and silver credits, would approximate $0.07 per pound, net of deferred mining costs of $0.05 per pound. Forecasted unit net cash costs are calculated on the same basis as the historical unit costs. Unit net cash costs for 2005 would change by approximately $0.02 per pound for each $25 per ounce change in the average price of gold for the fourth quarter. Estimated unit cash costs for 2005 are projected to be significantly lower than the 2004 average, primarily because of higher 2005 sales volumes, partially offset by increases in energy costs and costs of other consumables, higher mining costs and milling rates, labor costs and other factors.

Unit Net Cash Cost: Co-Product Method
Using the co-product method, unit site production and delivery costs in the third quarter of 2005 averaged $0.52 per pound of copper, $0.01 per pound lower than the $0.53 reported in the third quarter of 2004. Unit site production and delivery costs in the first nine months of 2005 averaged $0.46 per pound of copper, $0.17 per pound lower than the $0.63 reported in the first nine months of 2004. For gold, unit site production and delivery costs in the third quarter of 2005 averaged $134 per ounce, $25 per ounce lower than the $159 reported in the third quarter of 2004. For gold, unit site production and delivery costs in the
 
24

 
first nine months of 2005 averaged $118 per ounce, $70 per ounce lower than the $188 reported in the first nine months of 2004. As discussed above, unit site production and delivery costs in the 2005 periods benefited from higher sales volumes resulting from higher ore grades, but were adversely affected by higher energy costs and costs of other consumables, higher mining costs and milling rates, labor costs and other factors. Royalties per pound and per ounce were higher in the 2005 periods because of higher sales volumes and realized prices compared with the 2004 periods.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
The functional currency for our operations in Indonesia and Spain is the U.S. dollar. All of our revenues and a significant portion of our costs are denominated in U.S. dollars; however, some costs and certain asset and liability accounts are denominated in Indonesian rupiah, Australian dollars or euros. Generally, our results are positively affected when the U.S. dollar strengthens in relation to those foreign currencies and adversely affected when the U.S. dollar weakens in relation to those foreign currencies.

PT Freeport Indonesia recorded gains (losses) totaling $0.1 million in both of the 2005 periods, $(0.3) million in the third quarter of 2004 and $0.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 related to its rupiah-denominated net monetary assets and liabilities. PT Freeport Indonesia’s labor costs are mostly rupiah denominated. At estimated aggregate annual rupiah payments of 1.4 trillion for operating costs and an exchange rate of 10,306 rupiah to one U.S. dollar, the exchange rate as of September 30, 2005, a one-thousand-rupiah increase in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $12 million decrease in aggregate annual operating costs. A one-thousand-rupiah decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $15 million increase in aggregate annual operating costs.

PT Freeport Indonesia purchases certain materials and supplies denominated in Australian dollars. At estimated annual aggregate Australian dollar payments of 225 million, a $0.01 increase or decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $2 million change in aggregate annual costs. The exchange rate at September 30, 2005 was $0.76 to one Australian dollar.

At times, PT Freeport Indonesia has entered into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge a portion of its aggregate anticipated Indonesian rupiah and Australian dollar payments. As of September 30, 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia had foreign currency contracts to hedge 165.0 billion in rupiah payments, including costs for capital expenditures, or approximately 43 percent of aggregate projected rupiah payments for the fourth quarter of 2005, at an average exchange rate of 10,194 rupiah to one U.S. dollar. In the second quarter of 2005 and through July 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia entered into foreign currency contracts to hedge 735.0 billion in rupiah payments, including certain rupiah-based capital expenditures, or approximately 47 percent of aggregate projected rupiah payments for 2006, at an average exchange rate of 10,085 rupiah to one U.S. dollar. PT Freeport Indonesia accounts for these contracts as cash flow hedges.

Exploration Activities
PT Freeport Indonesia’s exploration efforts in 2005 are focused on potential extensions of the Mill Level Zone (MLZ) and Deep MLZ deposits to the northwest, expansion of the Deep Grasberg and Kucing Liar resources, and testing downward extensions of the Dom deposit, which are expected to result in approximately $15 million ($10 million for our share) of exploration costs during 2005. We are continuing to assess the timing of resumption of exploration activities in areas outside the existing producing area of the Grasberg mining district.

The Indonesian government previously approved suspensions of our field exploration activities outside of our current mining operations area, which have been in suspension in recent years due to safety and security issues and regulatory uncertainty relating to a possible conflict between our mining and exploration rights in certain forest areas and an Indonesian Forestry law enacted in 1999 prohibiting open-pit mining in forest preservation areas. The current suspensions were granted for one-year periods ending November 15, 2005, for Eastern Minerals; February 26, 2006, for Block B; and March 31, 2006, for PT Nabire Bakti Mining. Recent Indonesian legislation permits open-pit mining in PT Freeport Indonesia’s Block B area, subject to certain requirements. We are currently assessing these requirements and security issues. The timing for our resumption of exploration activities in our Contract of Work areas outside of Block A depends on the resolution of these matters.
 
SMELTING AND REFINING
Our investment in smelters serves an important role in our concentrate marketing strategy. PT Freeport Indonesia generally sells approximately one-half of its concentrate production to its affiliated smelters, Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting, and the remainder to other customers. Treatment charges for smelting and refining copper concentrates represent a cost to PT Freeport Indonesia and income to Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting. Through downstream integration, we are assured placement of a significant portion of our concentrate production. Low smelter treatment and refining charges in recent years adversely affected the operating results of Atlantic Copper and benefited the operating results of PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations. Market rates for treatment and refining charges have increased significantly since late 2004 as worldwide smelter availability was insufficient to accommodate increased mine production. Higher treatment and refining charges benefit our smelter operations and adversely affect our mining operations. Taking into account taxes and minority ownership interests, an equivalent change in smelting and refining charge rates essentially offset in our consolidated operating results.

Atlantic Copper Operating Results
    
     
 
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
(In Millions)
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Gross profit (loss)
$19.5
 
$(8.3
)
$23.8
 
$(53.1
)a
Add depreciation and amortization expense
7.4
 
7.1
 
21.6
 
21.2
 
Other
1.5
 
0.4
 
3.6
 
4.4
 
Cash margin (deficit)
$28.4
 
$(0.8
)
$49.0
 
$(27.5
)a
         
Operating income (loss) (in millions)
$17.2
 
$(11.6
) 
$15.6
 
$(62.5
)
Concentrate and scrap treated (metric tons)
253,600
 
231,300
 
716,300
 
547,900
 
Anodes production (000s of pounds)
162,300
 
145,200
 
469,100
 
352,100
 
Cathodes, wire rod and wire sales (000s of pounds)
138,500
 
128,100
 
411,900
 
342,500
 
Cathode cash unit cost per poundb
$0.16
 
$0.16
 
$0.17
 
$0.28
 
Gold sales in anodes and slimes (ounces)
176,400
 
72,200
 
422,600
 
249,000
 
  
a.  
Includes costs related to Atlantic Copper’s 51-day major maintenance turnaround totaling $27.5 million.
b.  
For a reconciliation of cathode cash unit costs per pound to production costs applicable to sales reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements refer to “Product Revenues and Production Costs” below.

Atlantic Copper’s operating cash margin was $28.4 million in the third quarter of 2005, compared with a deficit of $0.8 million in the 2004 quarter, and $49.0 million in the first nine months of 2005, compared with a $27.5 million deficit in the first nine months of 2004. The deficit in the third quarter of 2004 was primarily because of low treatment charge rates and the deficit for the nine-month 2004 period also reflected Atlantic Copper’s major maintenance turnaround, which began in March 2004 and was completed in May 2004. Atlantic Copper reported operating income of $17.2 million for the third quarter of 2005, compared with operating losses of $11.6 million for the 2004 period. Atlantic Copper reported operating income of $15.6 million for the first nine months of 2005, compared with operating losses of $62.5 million for the first nine months of 2004. The positive results in 2005 compared with 2004 primarily reflect higher treatment charge rates and realized benefits from a recent cost reduction and operational enhancement effort, partially offset by higher energy costs. The maintenance turnaround adversely affected costs and volumes resulting in impacts of approximately $40 million, including an approximate $12 million impact from lower volumes, on the nine-month 2004 period operating results and net income. Major maintenance turnarounds typically occur approximately every nine years for Atlantic Copper, with significantly shorter term maintenance turnarounds occurring in the interim. Atlantic Copper has a 22-day maintenance turnaround currently scheduled for 2007.

Atlantic Copper treated 253,600 metric tons of concentrate and scrap in the third quarter of 2005, compared with 231,300 metric tons in the 2004 period. For the nine-month periods, concentrate and scrap treated totaled 716,300 metric tons in 2005 and 547,900 metric tons in 2004. Cathode production totaled 138.2 million pounds and sales totaled 138.5 million pounds during the third quarter of 2005, compared with cathode production of 131.0 million pounds and sales of 128.1 million pounds during the third quarter of 2004. For the nine-month periods, cathode production totaled 407.7 million pounds and sales totaled 411.9 million pounds during 2005, compared with cathode production of 327.3 million pounds

and sales of 342.5 million pounds during 2004. Atlantic Copper’s cathode cash production costs per pound of copper averaged $0.16 in both of the third quarters of 2005 and 2004, $0.17 in the first nine months of 2005 and $0.28 in the first nine months of 2004. Unit costs in 2004 were adversely affected by lower production (third-quarter and nine-month periods) and higher costs from the scheduled maintenance turnaround (nine-month period). Atlantic Copper’s treatment charges (including price participation), which are what PT Freeport Indonesia and third parties pay Atlantic Copper to smelt and refine concentrates, averaged $0.26 per pound during the third quarter of 2005 and $0.22 per pound during the first nine months of 2005, compared with $0.15 per pound during the 2004 periods. Excess smelter capacity, combined with limited copper concentrate availability, resulted in historically low long-term treatment and refining rates for the past several years. However, as discussed above, treatment charge rates have increased significantly since late 2004 with increased mine production and higher copper prices. Atlantic Copper expects these higher rates to benefit its fourth-quarter 2005 operations with its average rates at current copper prices projected to approximate $0.26 per pound in the fourth quarter.

We defer recognizing profits on PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to Atlantic Copper and on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting until the final sales to third parties occur. Changes in these net deferrals resulted in reductions to our operating income totaling $1.9 million ($1.5 million to net income or $0.01 per share) in the third quarter of 2005, compared with $15.1 million ($7.7 million to net income or $0.04 per share) in the third quarter of 2004. Changes in these net deferrals reduced our operating income by $17.1 million ($10.0 million to net income or $0.05 per share) in the first nine months of 2005 and increased our operating income by $23.6 million ($12.1 million to net income or $0.07 per share) in the first nine months of 2004. At September 30, 2005, our net deferred profits on PT Freeport Indonesia concentrate inventories at Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting to be recognized in future periods’ net income after taxes and minority interest sharing totaled $52.0 million. Based on copper prices of $1.75 per pound and gold prices of $465 per ounce for the fourth quarter of 2005 and current shipping schedules, we expect that the net change in deferred profits on intercompany sales will result in a decrease to net income of approximately $40 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The actual change in deferred intercompany profits may differ substantially from this estimate because of changes in the timing of shipments to affiliated smelters and metal prices.

The majority of Atlantic Copper’s revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars; however, operating costs, other than concentrate purchases, and certain asset and liability accounts are denominated in euros. Atlantic Copper’s estimated annual euro payments total approximately 100 million euros. A $0.05 increase or decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $5 million change in annual costs. The exchange rate on September 30, 2005 was $1.20 per euro.

As of September 30, 2005, FCX’s net investment in Atlantic Copper totaled approximately $101 million, FCX had a $189.5 million loan outstanding to Atlantic Copper and Atlantic Copper’s debt to third parties under nonrecourse financing arrangements totaled $4.0 million. In March 2004, we used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our 6⅞% Senior Notes to fund Atlantic Copper’s repayment of $162.4 million of its borrowings (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity - Financing Activities”). Atlantic Copper recorded a $3.7 million ($0.02 per share) accounting charge for losses on early extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2004 related to these debt repayments.

Atlantic Copper had euro-denominated net monetary liabilities at September 30, 2005, totaling $35.4 million recorded at an exchange rate of $1.20 per euro. The exchange rate was $1.21 per euro at June 30, 2005, and $1.36 per euro at December 31, 2004. Adjustments to Atlantic Copper’s euro-denominated net monetary liabilities to reflect changes in the exchange rate are recorded in other income (expense) and totaled $(1.3) million in the third quarter of 2005, $(0.8) million in the third quarter of 2004, $4.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2004.

PT Smelting Operating Results

 
Third Quarter
 
Nine Months
 
(In Millions)
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
PT Freeport Indonesia sales to PT Smelting
$214.1
 
$181.6
 
$643.1
 
$474.8
 
Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses)
1.3
 
2.7
 
6.5
 
(0.2
)
PT Freeport Indonesia operating profits deferred
3.1
 
0.5
 
3.1
 
2.5
 
         


PT Freeport Indonesia accounts for its 25 percent interest in PT Smelting using the equity method and provides PT Smelting with substantially all of its concentrate requirements. During the second quarter of 2004, PT Smelting completed a 31-day maintenance turnaround and resumed normal operations. Major maintenance turnarounds of this duration typically occur approximately every four years for PT Smelting, with significantly shorter term maintenance turnarounds in the interim. PT Smelting also completed a refinery expansion during the maintenance turnaround, increasing its production capacity to approximately 250,000 metric tons of copper metal per year. PT Smelting plans to expand its production capacity to approximately 270,000 metric tons of copper metal per year by the middle of 2006.

PT Smelting treated 223,000 metric tons of concentrate in the third quarter of 2005, 228,100 metric tons in the 2004 quarter, 680,100 metric tons in the first nine months of 2005 and 530,800 metric tons in the first nine months of 2004. Higher concentrate tonnage from PT Freeport Indonesia in the first nine months of 2005 resulted in higher production compared with the first nine months of 2004 when PT Freeport Indonesia’s production was much lower. PT Smelting reported production and sales of 144.7 million pounds of cathodes in the third quarter of 2005, compared with production of 136.3 million pounds and sales of 135.8 million pounds in the year-ago period. For the first nine months of 2005, cathode production totaled 434.3 million pounds and sales totaled 433.9 million pounds, compared with cathode production of 320.2 million pounds and sales of 317.5 million pounds for the first nine months of 2004. PT Smelting’s cathode cash unit costs averaged $0.13 per pound in the third quarter of 2005 and $0.09 per pound in the third quarter of 2004, primarily reflecting higher energy costs in the 2005 period. Cathode cash unit costs averaged $0.11 per pound in the first nine months of 2005, compared with $0.13 per pound in the first nine months of 2004, reflecting the benefit of higher volumes in the 2005 period and the maintenance turnaround discussed above which occurred in the 2004 period (see “Product Revenues and Production Costs”).

OTHER FINANCIAL RESULTS

The FCX/Rio Tinto joint ventures incurred $3.0 million of aggregate exploration costs in the third quarter of 2005, $3.2 million in the third quarter of 2004, $9.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $11.1 million in the first nine months of 2004. As discussed above in “Exploration Activities,” our exploration program for 2005 is focused on potential extensions of the MLZ and Deep MLZ deposits to the northwest, expansion of the Deep Grasberg and Kucing Liar resources and testing downward extensions of the Dom deposit. Our share of these exploration costs, which are charged to expense, totaled $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2005, $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2004, $6.4 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $7.0 million in the first nine months of 2004.

Consolidated general and administrative expenses decreased to $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2005, compared with $26.2 million in the year-ago period. For the first nine months of 2005, general and administrative expenses totaled $72.5 million, compared with $64.3 million for the first nine months of 2004. The 2005 amounts include higher incentive compensation costs associated with stronger financial performance and pursuant to established plans. Compensation costs are higher in 2005 because certain compensation plans are based on annual operating cash flow results, which are projected to be significantly higher in 2005 compared with 2004. Third-quarter and nine-month 2005 general and administrative expenses also include $2.0 million in administrative costs incurred following Hurricane Katrina and for contributions to hurricane-relief efforts.

Our parent company charges PT Freeport Indonesia for the in-the-money value of exercised employee stock options. These charges are eliminated in consolidation; however, PT Freeport Indonesia shares a portion of these charges with Rio Tinto and Rio Tinto’s reimbursements reduce our consolidated general and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses are net of Rio Tinto’s share of joint venture reimbursements for employee stock option exercises, which decreased general and administrative expenses by $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2005, none in the third quarter of 2004, $5.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $4.8 million in the first nine months of 2004. The cost of our outstanding stock appreciation rights varies with the price of our common stock, and resulted in increases in general and administrative expenses totaling $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2005, $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2004, $1.5 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2004. In accordance with our joint venture agreement, Rio Tinto’s percentage share of PT Freeport Indonesia’s general and administrative expenses varies with metal sales volumes and prices and totaled approximately 16 percent in the first nine months of 2005 compared with approximately 7 percent in the first nine months of 2004.
 
28

Table of Contents
 
Total interest cost (before capitalization) was $34.4 million in the third quarter of 2005, $38.6 million in the third quarter of 2004, $109.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $112.5 million in the first nine months of 2004. First-quarter 2004 conversions of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes resulted in a $6.4 million reduction of interest expense for previously accrued amounts that were reclassified to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt. Capitalized interest costs totaled $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2005, $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2004, $2.9 million in the first nine months of 2005 and $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2004.

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

Based on current mine plans and subject to future copper and gold prices, we expect to generate cash flows significantly greater than our budgeted capital expenditures and scheduled debt maturities, providing opportunities to reduce debt further and return cash to shareholders through dividends and share purchases. Our current regular common stock dividend is $1.00 per share, which is payable quarterly at a rate of $0.25 per share. In July 2005, our Board of Directors authorized a supplemental dividend of $0.50 per share which was paid on September 30, 2005. In addition, we paid two other supplemental common stock dividends totaling $0.75 per share, $0.25 per share on December 29, 2004 and $0.50 per share on March 31, 2005. Our Board of Directors will continue to review our dividend policy.
 
During the second quarter, we purchased 2.4 million shares of our common stock for $80.2 million, an average of $33.83 per share. As of October 31, 2005, 14.2 million shares remain available under the Board authorized 20-million share open market purchase program. The timing of future purchases of our common stock is dependent upon a number of factors including the price of our common shares, our cash flows and financial position, copper and gold prices and general economic and market conditions.

Operating Activities
We generated operating cash flows totaling $883.0 million, including $154.7 million from working capital sources, during the first nine months of 2005, compared with net cash used in operating activities totaling $62.9 million, including $199.9 million for working capital, during the first nine months of 2004. The significant improvement in 2005 compared with the prior year period primarily reflects significantly higher production and sales and higher copper and gold prices. Using estimated sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2005 and assuming prices of $1.75 per pound of copper and $465 per ounce of gold were realized for the fourth quarter of 2005, we would generate operating cash flows approximating $1.4 billion in 2005, with approximately $500 million in the fourth quarter.

Investing Activities 
Total capital expenditures of $95.6 million in the first nine months of 2005 were lower than the $108.4 million reported in the 2004 period, primarily because of lower expenditures at Atlantic Copper. Our capital expenditures for 2005 are expected to total approximately $180 million, including approximately $17 million for the DOZ expansion and $18 million for the Common Infrastructure project. We expect to fund our 2005 capital expenditures with operating cash flows and available cash.

In the first quarter of 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia received the $23.2 million balance of its share of insurance settlement proceeds related to its open-pit slippage claim, $2.0 million of which represented a recovery of property losses. We sold $6.7 million of our restricted investments in the first nine months of 2004 to pay scheduled semiannual interest due on 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes. Conversions of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes during the first quarter of 2004 allowed us to sell an additional $15.1 million of our restricted investments. In the first quarter of 2004, Atlantic Copper repaid its working capital revolving credit facility that was secured by certain copper concentrate inventory resulting in the release of $11.0 million of previously restricted cash.

Financing Activities
As of September 30, 2005, we had total unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $392.8 million and total outstanding debt of $1.39 billion. Debt was reduced by $565.8 million during the first nine months of 2005, primarily reflecting the following transactions:

·  
first-quarter prepayment of $187.0 million of bank debt associated with PT Puncakjaya Power’s power-generating facilities at PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations;
·  
first-quarter purchases in open market transactions of $11.0 million of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2006 and 7.20% Senior Notes due 2026 for $11.0 million;
·  
third-quarter purchases in open market transactions of $149.9 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010 for $166.3 million and $4.5 million of 7.5% Senior Notes due 2006 for $4.6 million; and
 
·  
third-quarter privately negotiated transactions to induce conversion of $188.4 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 into 6.1 million shares of FCX common stock.

We recorded net charges of $38.4 million, $30.3 million to net income or $0.14 per share, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 as a result of these transactions. The aggregate interest cost savings of the third-quarter transactions are estimated to approximate $30 million per annum. On August 1, 2005, we funded the seventh of eight scheduled annual redemption payments on our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $17.5 million. The mandatory redemption resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a reduction of revenues of $5.0 million, $2.6 million to net income or $0.01 per share, in the third quarter of 2005. Our gold-denominated and silver-denominated preferred stock are treated as hedges and any gains or losses realized upon redemption are therefore recorded as adjustments to revenues.

In October 2005, we induced conversion of an additional $21.0 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 into 0.7 million shares of FCX common stock and purchased in open market transactions an additional $18.4 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010 for $20.4 million. We expect to record a net charge of $4.4 million, $3.4 million to net income, in the fourth quarter of 2005 as a result of these transactions. We are continuing to assess opportunities to repay debt in advance of scheduled maturities.
 
Common stock dividends totaled $133.3 million in the third quarter of 2005 and $312.9 million ($1.75 per share) in the first nine months of 2005, including $178.9 million ($1.00 per share) for the two $0.50 per share supplement dividends paid on March 31, 2005 and September 30, 2005. In November 2005, our Board of Directors authorized an increase in our annual common stock dividend to $1.25 per share (from $1.00 per share). The dividend will be payable quarterly ($0.3125 per share) beginning with the February 1, 2006 dividend payment. Our Board of Directors also declared a supplemental common stock dividend of $0.50 per share to be paid on December 30, 2005 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2005. The supplemental dividend to be paid in December represents an addition to our regular quarterly common stock dividend. This is the fourth supplemental dividend totaling $1.75 per share since the fourth quarter of 2004, including $0.25 per share in 2004 and $1.50 per share in 2005. The payment of this dividend will bring 2005 regular and supplemental dividends to $2.50 per share. The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors. The amount of our current quarterly cash dividend ($0.3125 per share) on our common stock and the possible payment of additional future supplemental cash dividends will depend on our financial results, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

In the first nine months of 2004, we paid regular quarterly dividends ($0.20 per share each quarter) for a total of $109.4 million. Cash dividends on preferred stock, $45.4 million in 2005 and $20.3 million in 2004, represent dividends on our 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock we sold in March 2004 (see below). Cash dividends to minority interests represent dividends paid to the minority interest owners of PT Freeport Indonesia and Puncakjaya Power. Pursuant to the restricted payment covenants in our 10⅛% Senior Notes and 6⅞% Senior Notes, the amount available for dividend payments, purchases of our common stock and other restricted payments as of September 30, 2005, was approximately $575 million.

In 2003, our Board of Directors approved a new open market share purchase program for up to 20 million shares, which replaced our previous program. Through October 31, 2005, under this new program, we acquired 2.4 million shares in the second quarter of 2005 for $80.2 million, $33.83 per share average, and 3.4 million shares during the second quarter of 2004 for $99.5 million, $29.39 per share average, and 14.2 million shares remain available. The timing of future purchases of our common stock is dependent on many factors including the price of our common shares, our cash flow and financial position, and general economic and market conditions.

We completed several financing transactions during the first nine months of 2004 to improve our financial position and debt maturity profile. We completed a tender offer and privately negotiated transactions for a portion of our remaining 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006 resulting in the early conversion of $226.1 million of notes into 15.8 million shares of our common stock. We recorded a $10.9 million charge to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt in the first quarter of 2004 in connection with these conversions. The $10.9 million charge included $6.4 million of previously accrued interest costs, resulting in an equivalent reduction of interest expense. In June 2004, we called for redemption on July 31, 2004 the remaining $66.5 million of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes. During July 2004, all of these notes were converted into 4.7 million shares of our common stock. As of July 31, 2004, all of the 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes, which totaled $603.8 million at issuance in 2001, had been converted to FCX common stock.

 
30

 
On February 3, 2004, we sold $350 million of 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 for net proceeds of $344.4 million. We used a portion of the proceeds from the sale to fund the repayment of $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper borrowings and to refinance other FCX 2004 debt maturities. Atlantic Copper recorded a $3.7 million charge to losses on early extinguishment of debt to accelerate amortization of deferred financing costs. During the second quarter of 2004, we purchased in the open market $9.7 million of the 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 for $8.8 million, which resulted in a gain of $0.8 million recorded as a reduction to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt, including related deferred financing cost.
 
On March 30, 2004, we sold 1.1 million shares of 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock for $1.1 billion, with net proceeds totaling $1.067 billion. The conversion rate is adjustable upon the occurrence of certain events, including an increase in the common stock dividend rate. We used a portion of the proceeds from the sale to purchase 23.9 million shares of FCX common stock owned by Rio Tinto for $881.9 million (approximately $36.85 per share) and used the remainder for general corporate purposes.

We took steps to improve Atlantic Copper’s liquidity and financial position during the first nine months of 2004 and repaid $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper’s debt. In April 2004, we prepaid $66.2 million of our vendor equipment financing.

On August 1, 2004, we funded the sixth of eight scheduled annual redemption payments on our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $13.9 million. The mandatory redemption resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a hedging loss to revenues of $1.4 million ($0.7 million to net income or less than $0.01 per share) in the third quarter of 2004.

Below is a summary (in millions) of our total debt maturities based on loan balances as of September 30, 2005, and original issue amounts for mandatorily redeemable preferred stock. The pro forma debt maturities include adjustments to the redeemable preferred stock to reflect current gold and silver prices and adjustments for the October 2005 transactions discussed above.
 
 
2005
 
2006
 
2007
 
2008
 
2009
 
Thereafter
 
Equipment loans and other
$
2.1
 
$
13.0
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
14.0
 
Redeemable preferred stock
 
-
  
179.9
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
Atlantic Copper debt
 
3.9
  
0.1
     
-
  
-
  
-
 
7.50% Senior Notes due 2006
 
-
  
55.4
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
350.1
 
7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011a
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
386.6
 
6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
340.3
 
7.20% Senior Notes due 2026
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
  
0.2
 
Total debt maturities
$
6.0
 
$
248.4
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
1,091.2
 
Pro forma adjustment
 
-
  
41.8
b
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
(39.4
)c
Pro forma debt maturities
$
6.0
 
$
290.2
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
13.5
 
$
1,051.8
 

a.  
Conversion price is $30.87 per share.
b.  
Represents additional amounts due above the original issue amounts based on the price of silver and gold, totaling $36.4 million in February 2006 for our Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock, Series II and $5.4 in August 2006 for our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock. We calculated these amounts using the September 30, 2005, London gold fixing price for one ounce of gold ($473.25) and the London silver fixing price for one ounce of silver ($7.53) in the London bullion market (which determine the preferred stock redemption amounts).
c.  
Includes $21.0 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 and $18.4 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010 discussed above.

 
31

 
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Deferred Mining Costs
In the mining industry, the costs of removing overburden and waste material to access mineral deposits are referred to as “stripping costs.” Currently, we apply the deferred mining cost method in accounting for PT Freeport Indonesia’s post-production stripping costs, which we refer to as overburden removal costs. The deferred mining cost method is used by some companies in the metals mining industry; however, industry practice varies. The deferred mining cost method matches the cost of production with the sale of the related metal from the open pit by assigning each metric ton of ore removed an equivalent amount of overburden tonnage, thereby averaging overburden removal costs over the life of the mine. The mining cost capitalized in inventory and the amounts charged to cost of goods sold do not represent the actual costs incurred to mine the ore in any given period. The application of the deferred mining cost method has resulted in an asset on our balance sheets (“Deferred Mining Costs”) totaling $289.0 million at September 30, 2005, and $220.4 million at December 31, 2004. For further information, see Note 1 in FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In March 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ratified EITF 04-6, “Accounting for Stripping Costs Incurred during Production in the Mining Industry,” which requires that stripping costs be considered costs of the extracted minerals and recognized as a component of inventory to be recognizedin cost of sales in the same period as the revenue from the sale of inventory. As a result, capitalization of stripping costs is appropriate only to the extent product inventory exists at the end of a reporting period. The guidance in EITF 04-6 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted. Companies may apply this guidance either by recognition of a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings in the period of adoption or by restating prior period financial statements. We expect to adopt the guidance on January 1, 2006, with the most significant impacts of adoption being the deferred mining costs asset on our balance sheet on that date will be recorded, net of taxes and minority interest share, as a cumulative effect adjustment to reduce beginning retained earnings and future stripping costs will effectively be charged to cost of sales as incurred. Adoption of the new guidance will have no impact on our cash flows. Had we adopted EITF 04-6 on January 1, 2004, we estimate operating income would have been reduced by approximately $14.9 million ($7.9 million to net income or $0.04 per diluted share) for the third quarter of 2005, $27.2 million ($14.5 million to net income or $0.08 per share) for the third quarter of 2004, $68.0 million ($36.0 million to net income of $0.16 per diluted share) for the first nine months of 2005 and $80.1 million ($42.5 million to net loss or $0.23 per share) for the first nine months of 2004. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what charges may be for future periods.

Stock-Based Payments
Refer to Note 1 in FCX’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K for our accounting for share-based payments, including stock options. Through September 30, 2005, we have accounted for grants of employee stock options under the recognition principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, which require compensation costs for stock-based employee compensation plans to be recognized based on the difference on the date of grant, if any, between the quoted market price of the stock and the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. If we had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which requires stock-based compensation to be recognized based on the use of a fair value method, our net income would have been reduced by $3.2 million, $0.02 per basic share and no change in earnings per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2005, $1.5 million, $0.01 per share, for the third quarter of 2004 and $9.5 million, $0.05 per basic share and $0.03 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2005. Our net loss for the first nine months of 2004 would have been increased by $3.7 million, $0.02 per share (see Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS No. 123R). SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. SFAS No. 123R’s effective date is fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. We are still reviewing the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and expect to adopt SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006. Based on currently outstanding employee stock options, we currently estimate the pro forma charge to earnings before taxes and minority interest sharing for the full year 2005 would total approximately $22 million, and the pro forma reduction in net income would be approximately $13 million, $0.07 per share using average basic shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2005. These 2005 pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of what charges may be for future periods.

 
32

 
PRODUCT REVENUES AND PRODUCTION COSTS

PT Freeport Indonesia Product Revenues and Unit Net Cash Costs
All amounts used in both the by-product and co-product method presentations are included in our recorded results under generally accepted accounting principles. We separately identify certain of these amounts as shown in the following reconciliation to amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and as explained below.

1.  
We show adjustments to revenues for prior period open sales as separate line items. Because such copper pricing adjustments do not result from current period sales, we have reflected these separately from revenues on current period sales.

2.  
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, which consist of items such as write-offs of equipment or unusual charges, have not been material. They are removed from site production and delivery costs in the calculation of unit net cash costs.

3.  
Gold and silver revenues are reflected as credits against site production and delivery costs in the by-product method.
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2005
    
 
By-Product
 
Co-Product Method
 
(In Thousands)
Method
 
Copper
 
Gold
 
Silver
 
Total
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
$
593,374
 
$
593,374
 
$
210,377
 
$
7,402
 
$
811,153
 
                
Site production and delivery, before net noncash
               
and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
244,532
a
 
178,880
b
 
63,421
b
 
2,231
b
 
244,532
 
Gold and silver credits
 
(217,779
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
86,197
  
63,055
  
22,356
  
786
  
86,197
 
Royalty on metals
 
20,348
  
14,885
  
5,277
  
186
  
20,348
 
Unit net cash costs
 
133,298
  
256,820
  
91,054
  
3,203
  
351,077
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
51,143
  
37,412
  
13,264
  
467
  
51,143
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
2,469
  
1,806
  
640
  
23
  
2,469
 
Total unit costs
 
186,910
  
296,038
  
104,958
  
3,693
  
404,689
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
66,582
  
71,534
  
-
  
(4,952
)
 
66,582
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(3,096
)
 
(2,265
)
 
(803
)
 
(28
)
 
(3,096
)
Gross profit (loss)
$
469,950
 
$
366,605
 
$
104,616
 
$
(1,271
)
$
469,950
 
                
Reconciliation to Amounts Reported
               
(In Thousands)
Revenues
 
Production and Delivery
 
Depreciation and Amortization
       
Totals presented above
$
811,153
 
$
244,532
 
$
51,143
       
Net noncash and nonrecurring costs per above
 
N/A
  
2,469
  
N/A
       
Less: Treatment charges per above
 
(86,197
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Royalty per above
 
(20,348
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and hedging per above
 
66,582
  
N/A
  
N/A
       
Mining and exploration segment
 
771,190
  
247,001
  
51,143
       
Smelting and refining segment
 
378,412
  
351,517
  
7,415
       
Eliminations and other
 
(166,332
)
 
(164,150
)
 
3,088
       
As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial
               
statements
$
983,270
 
$
434,368
 
$
61,646
       

a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $15.8 million or 4.6¢ per pound. Upon adoption of EITF 04-6, mining costs will no longer be deferred. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $11.6 million or 3.3¢ per pound for copper, $4.1 million or $8.63 per ounce for gold and $0.1 million or $0.14 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
    
 
By-Product
 
Co-Product Method
 
(In Thousands)
Method
 
Copper
 
Gold
 
Silver
 
Total
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
$
349,395
 
$
349,395
 
$
139,919
 
$
5,249
 
$
494,563
 
                
Site production and delivery, before net noncash
               
and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
196,635
a
 
138,917
b
 
55,631
b
 
2,087
b
 
196,635
 
Gold and silver credits
 
(145,168
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
51,367
  
36,290
  
14,532
  
545
  
51,367
 
Royalty on metals
 
11,601
  
8,196
  
3,282
  
123
  
11,601
 
Unit net cash costs
 
114,435
  
183,403
  
73,445
  
2,755
  
259,603
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
46,135
  
32,593
  
13,052
  
490
  
46,135
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
2,237
  
1,580
  
633
  
24
  
2,237
 
Total unit costs
 
162,807
  
217,576
  
87,130
  
3,269
  
307,975
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
16,281
  
17,722
  
-
  
(1,441
)
 
16,281
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(517
)
 
(365
)
 
(147
)
 
(5
)
 
(517
)
Gross profit
$
202,352
 
$
149,176
 
$
52,642
 
$
534
 
$
202,352
 
                
Reconciliation to Amounts Reported
               
(In Thousands)
Revenues
 
Production and Delivery
 
Depreciation and Amortization
       
Totals presented above
$
494,563
 
$
196,635
 
$
46,135
       
Net noncash and nonrecurring costs per above
 
N/A
  
2,237
  
N/A
       
Less: Treatment charges per above
 
(51,367
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Royalty per above
 
(11,601
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and hedging per above
 
16,281
  
N/A
  
N/A
       
Mining and exploration segment
 
447,876
  
198,872
  
46,135
       
Smelting and refining segment
 
222,184
  
223,384
  
7,114
       
Eliminations and other
 
(69,504
)
 
(54,240
)
 
2,506
       
As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial
               
statements
$
600,556
 
$
368,016
 
$
55,755
       

a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $23.7 million or 9.0¢ per pound. Upon adoption of EITF 04-6, mining costs will no longer be deferred. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $16.7 million or 6.4¢ per pound for copper, $6.7 million or $19.14 per ounce for gold and $0.3 million or $0.30 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005
    
 
By-Product
 
Co-Product Method
 
(In Thousands)
Method
 
Copper
 
Gold
 
Silver
 
Total
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
$
1,660,045
 
$
1,660,045
 
$
725,415
 
$
23,908
 
$
2,409,368
 
                
Site production and delivery, before net noncash
               
and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
658,958
a
 
454,019
b
 
198,400
b
 
6,539
b
 
658,958
 
Gold and silver credits
 
(749,323
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
225,551
  
155,404
  
67,909
  
2,238
  
225,551
 
Royalty on metals
 
56,867
  
39,181
  
17,122
  
564
  
56,867
 
Unit net cash costs
 
192,053
  
648,604
  
283,431
  
9,341
  
941,376
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
142,285
  
98,034
  
42,839
  
1,412
  
142,285
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
5,276
  
3,635
  
1,589
  
52
  
5,276
 
Total unit costs
 
339,614
  
750,273
  
327,859
  
10,805
  
1,088,937
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
10,024
  
14,976
  
-
  
(4,952
)
 
10,024
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(3,120
)
 
(2,150
)
 
(939
)
 
(31
)
 
(3,120
)
Gross profit
$
1,327,335
 
$
922,598
 
$
396,617
 
$
8,120
 
$
1,327,335
 

 
34

Table of Contents
 
Reconciliation to Amounts Reported
               
(In Thousands)
Revenues
 
Production and Delivery
 
Depreciation and Amortization
       
Totals presented above
$
2,409,368
 
$
658,958
 
$
142,285
       
Net noncash and nonrecurring costs per above
 
N/A
  
5,276
  
N/A
       
Less: Treatment charges per above
 
(225,551
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Royalty per above
 
(56,867
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and hedging per above
 
10,024
  
N/A
  
N/A
       
Mining and exploration segment
 
2,136,974
  
664,234
  
142,285
       
Smelting and refining segment
 
982,425
  
937,003
  
21,645
       
Eliminations and other
 
(430,155
)
 
(411,277
)
 
8,801
       
As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial
               
statements
$
2,689,244
 
$
1,189,960
 
$
172,731
       
 
a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $68.6 million or 6.9¢ per pound. Upon adoption of EITF 04-6, mining costs will no longer be deferred. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $47.3 million or 4.8¢ per pound for copper, $20.7 million or $12.25 per ounce for gold and $0.7 million or $0.20 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
    
 
By-Product
 
Co-Product Method
 
(In Thousands)
Method
 
Copper
 
Gold
 
Silver
 
Total
 
Revenues, after adjustments shown below
$
755,834
 
$
755,834
 
$
327,229
 
$
13,991
 
$
1,097,054
 
                
Site production and delivery, before net noncash
               
and nonrecurring costs shown below
 
520,180
a
 
358,387
b
 
155,159
b
 
6,634
b
 
520,180
 
Gold and silver credits
 
(341,220
)
 
-
  
-
  
-
  
-
 
Treatment charges
 
118,759
  
81,821
  
35,423
  
1,515
  
118,759
 
Royalty on metals
 
24,323
  
16,758
  
7,255
  
310
  
24,323
 
Unit net cash costs
 
322,042
  
456,966
  
197,837
  
8,459
  
663,262
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
96,738
  
66,649
  
28,855
  
1,234
  
96,738
 
Noncash and nonrecurring costs, net
 
5,207
  
3,587
  
1,554
  
66
  
5,207
 
Total unit costs
 
423,987
  
527,202
  
228,246
  
9,759
  
765,207
 
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and silver hedging
 
11,929
  
13,370
  
-
  
(1,441
)
 
11,929
 
PT Smelting intercompany profit elimination
 
(2,473
)
 
(1,704
)
 
(738
)
 
(31
)
 
(2,473
)
Gross profit
$
341,303
 
$
240,298
 
$
98,245
 
$
2,760
 
$
341,303
 
                

Reconciliation to Amounts Reported
               
(In Thousands)
Revenues
 
Production and Delivery
 
Depreciation and Amortization
       
Totals presented above
$
1,097,054
 
$
520,180
 
$
96,738
       
Net noncash and nonrecurring costs per above
 
N/A
  
5,207
  
N/A
       
Less: Treatment charges per above
 
(118,759
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Royalty per above
 
(24,323
)
 
N/A
  
N/A
       
Revenue adjustments, primarily for pricing on
               
prior period open sales and hedging per above
 
11,929
  
N/A
  
N/A
       
Mining and exploration segment
 
965,901
  
525,387
  
96,738
       
Smelting and refining segment
 
605,137
  
637,042
  
21,209
       
Eliminations and other
 
(123,963
)
 
(147,122
)
 
5,808
       
As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial
               
statements
$
1,447,075
 
$
1,015,307
 
$
123,755
       
 
a.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $81.4 million or 14.2¢ per pound. Upon adoption of EITF 04-6, mining costs will no longer be deferred. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
b.   
Net of deferred mining costs totaling $56.1 million or 9.8¢ per pound for copper, $24.3 million or $29.43 per ounce for gold and $1.0 million or $0.47 per ounce for silver. See Note a above.

 
Atlantic Copper Cathode Cash Unit Cost Per Pound Of Copper
Atlantic Copper cathode cash unit cost per pound of copper is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the costs it incurs to produce cathodes at its smelting operations in Spain. We use this measure for the same purpose and for monitoring operating performance at Atlantic Copper’s smelting operations. This information differs from measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Other smelting companies present this measure, although Atlantic Copper’s measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The reconciliation below presents reported production costs for our smelting and refining segment (Atlantic Copper) and subtracts or adds components of those costs that do not directly relate to the process of converting copper concentrates to cathodes. The adjusted production costs amounts are used to calculate Atlantic Copper’s cathode cash unit cost per pound of copper (in thousands, except per pound amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Smelting and refining segment production costs reported
            
in FCX’s consolidated financial statements
$
351,517
 
$
223,384
 
$
937,003
 
$
637,042
a
Less:
            
Raw material purchase costs
 
(237,502
)
 
(36,358
)
 
(643,972
)
 
(204,236
)
Production costs of wire rod and wire
 
-
b
 
(127,938
)
 
-
b
 
(212,228
)
Production costs of anodes sold
 
(4,194
)
 
(1,656
)
 
(10,008
)
 
(2,070
)
Other
 
(1,238
)
 
(430
)
 
(2,260
)
 
(5,195
)
Credits:
            
Gold and silver revenues
 
(78,215
)
 
(30,081
)
 
(188,636
)
 
(104,104
)
Acid and other by-product revenues
 
(7,818
)
 
(5,713
)
 
(22,408
)
 
(18,085
)
Production costs used in calculating cathode cash unit
            
cost per pound
$
22,550
 
$
21,208
 
$
69,719
 
$
91,124
 
Pounds of cathode produced
 
138,200
  
131,000
  
407,700
  
327,300
 
Cathode cash unit cost per pound
$
0.16
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.17
 
$
0.28
 

a.  
Includes $27.5 million, $0.14 per pound, for costs related to Atlantic Copper’s major maintenance turnaround.
b.  
Atlantic Copper sold its wire rod and wire assets in December 2004.

PT Smelting Cathode Cash Unit Cost Per Pound Of Copper
PT Smelting cathode cash unit cost per pound of copper is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the costs it incurs to produce cathodes at its smelting operations in Indonesia. We use this measure for the same purpose and for monitoring operating performance at PT Smelting’s smelting operations. This information differs from measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Other smelting companies present this measure, although PT Smelting’s measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The calculation below presents PT Smelting’s reported operating costs and subtracts or adds components of those costs that do not directly relate to the process of converting copper concentrates to cathodes. PT Smelting’s operating costs are then reconciled to PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses) reported in our consolidated financial statements (in thousands, except per pound amounts):

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Operating costs - PT Smelting (100%)
$
21,696
 
$
15,480
 
$
57,770
 
$
49,240
 
Add: Gold and silver refining charges
 
1,112
  
1,327
  
3,187
  
3,039
 
Less: Acid and other by-product revenues
 
(3,616
)
 
(4,065
)
 
(11,117
)
 
(9,547
)
Production cost of anodes sold
 
-
  
(162
)
 
-
  
(249
)
Other
 
(114
)
 
(428
)
 
(1,070
)
 
412
 
Production costs used in calculating cathode cash unit
            
cost per pound
$
19,078
 
$
12,152
 
$
48,770
 
$
42,895
 
Pounds of cathode produced
 
144,700
  
136,300
  
434,300
  
320,200
 
Cathode cash unit cost per pound
$
0.13
 
$
0.09
 
$
0.11
 
$
0.13
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Reconciliation to Amounts Reported
            
Operating costs per above
$
(21,696
)
$
(15,480
)
$
(57,770
)
$
(49,240
)
Other costs
 
(332,544
)
 
(250,338
)
 
(923,489
)
 
(585,247
)
Revenue and other income
 
359,738
  
276,771
  
1,007,872
  
634,297
 
PT Smelting net income (loss)
 
5,498
  
10,953
  
26,613
  
(190
)
             
PT Freeport Indonesia’s 25% equity interest
 
1,375
  
2,738
  
6,653
  
(48
)
Amortization of excess investment cost
 
(60
)
 
(60
)
 
(180
)
 
(180
)
Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses) reported in
            
FCX’s consolidated financial statements
$
1,315
 
$
2,678
 
$
6,473
 
$
(228
)
 
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Our discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements in which we discuss our expectations regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as those regarding anticipated sales volumes, ore grades, commodity prices, general and administrative expenses, unit cash costs, operating cash flows, royalty costs, capital expenditures, debt repayments and refinancing, debt maturities, treatment charge rates, depreciation rates, exploration efforts and results, dividend payments, liquidity and other financial commitments. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results may differ materially from those projected, anticipated or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that can cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include unanticipated mining, milling and other processing problems, accidents that lead to personal injury or property damage, persistent commodity price reductions, changes in political, social or economic circumstances in our area of operations, variances in ore grades, labor relations, adverse weather conditions, the speculative nature of mineral exploration, fluctuations in interest rates and other adverse financial market conditions, and other factors described in more detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

There have been no significant changes in our market risks since the year ended December 31, 2004. For more information, please read the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, with the participation of management, have evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Based on their evaluation, they have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to FCX (including our consolidated subsidiaries) required to be disclosed in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

(b) Changes in internal controls. There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.


We are involved from time to time in various legal proceedings of a character normally incident to the ordinary course of our business. We believe that potential liability in such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. We maintain liability insurance to cover some, but not all, potential liabilities normally incident to the ordinary course of our business as well as other insurance coverage customary in our business, with coverage limits that we deem prudent.

 
37

Table of Contents

(a) During the third quarter of 2005 and in early October, we privately negotiated transactions with holders to induce conversion of $209.4 million of our $575 million 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011 into 6.8 million shares of our common stock. These transactions are in reliance on the exemption from registration provided under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933.

(c) In October 2003, our Board of Directors approved a new open market share purchase program for up to 20 million shares, which replaced our previous program. The program does not have an expiration date. No shares were purchased during the three-month period ended September 30, 2005, and 14.2 million shares remain available for purchase.

The exhibits to this report are listed in the Exhibit Index beginning on page E-1 hereof.
 

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

By: /s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.
Vice President and
Controller-Financial Reporting
(authorized signatory and
Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: November 3, 2005


 
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Exhibit
Number      Description

3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 (the FCX 2002 First Quarter Form 10-Q).
   
3.2
 
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of FCX. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q).
   
3.3
 
Amended By-Laws of FCX dated as of February 3, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (the FCX 2003 Form 10-K).
   
4.1
 
Deposit Agreement dated as of January 15, 1994, among FCX, Mellon, as Depositary, and holders of depositary receipts (Gold-Denominated II Depositary Receipts) evidencing certain Depositary Shares, each of which, in turn, represented 0.05 shares of Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock II. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
   
4.2
 
Form of Gold-Denominated II Depositary Receipt. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
4.3
 
Deposit Agreement dated as of July 25, 1994, among FCX, Mellon, as Depositary, and holders of depositary receipts (Silver-Denominated Depositary Receipts) evidencing certain Depositary Shares, each of which, in turn, initially represented 0.025 shares of Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
4.4
 
Form of Silver-Denominated Depositary Receipt. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
4.5
 
Certificate of Designations of 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of FCX. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated March 30, 2004 and filed March 31, 2004.
   
4.6
 
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2003, but effective as of October 2, 2003, among FCX, PT Freeport Indonesia, the several financial institutions that are parties thereto, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as PT Freeport Indonesia Trustee, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Arranger, and JPMorgan Chase Manhattan Bank as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank, Security Agent, JAA Security Agent and Documentation Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.
   
4.7
 
Senior Indenture dated as of November 15, 1996, from FCX to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of FCX filed November 5, 2001 (the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3).

4.8
 
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 18, 1996, from FCX to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the Senior Notes and supplementing the Senior Indenture dated November 15, 1996, from FCX to such Trustee, providing for the issuance of the 7.50% Senior Notes due 2006 and the 7.20% Senior Notes due 2026. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
4.9
 
Indenture dated as of January 29, 2003, from FCX to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 10% Senior Notes due 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated February 6, 2003.

4.10
 
Indenture dated as of February 11, 2003, from FCX to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated February 11, 2003 and filed February 25, 2003.
   
4.11
 
Indenture dated as of February 3, 2004, from FCX to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with respect to the 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
4.12
 
Rights Agreement dated as of May 3, 2000, between FCX and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended March 31, 2000.
   
4.13
 
Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of February 26, 2002, between FCX and Mellon Investor Services. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to the FCX 2002 First Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.1
 
Contract of Work dated December 30, 1991, between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and PT Freeport Indonesia. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
10.2
 
Contract of Work dated August 15, 1994, between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and PT Irja Eastern Minerals Corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
10.3
 
Participation Agreement dated as of October 11, 1996, between PT Freeport Indonesia and P.T. RTZ-CRA Indonesia with respect to a certain contract of work. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
10.4
 
Agreement dated as of October 11, 1996, to Amend and Restate Trust Agreement among PT Freeport Indonesia, FCX, the RTZ Corporation PLC, P.T. RTZ-CRA Indonesia, RTZ Indonesian Finance Limited and First Trust of New York, National Association, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, JAA Security Agent and Security Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated November 13, 1996 and filed November 15, 1996.
   
10.5
 
Concentrate Purchase and Sales Agreement dated effective December 11, 1996, between PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Smelting. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
10.6
 
Second Amended and Restated Joint Venture and Shareholders’ Agreement dated as of December 11, 1996, among Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Nippon Mining and Metals Company, Limited and PT Freeport Indonesia. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
   
10.7
 
Settlement Agreement dated December 17, 2004, between Underwriters Subscribing to Certain Policies Reinsuring the Original Policy, Freeport-McMoRan Insurance Company Limited, FM Services Company (FMS) and FCX. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (the FCX 2004 Form 10-K).
   
  
Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements (Exhibits 10.8 through 10.55)
   
10.8
 
Annual Incentive Plan of FCX as amended effective February 2, 1999. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (the FCX 1998 Form 10-K).
   
10.9
 
FCX Performance Incentive Awards Program as amended effective February 2, 1999. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the FCX 1998 Form 10-K.
   
10.10
 
FCX President’sAward Program. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.
 
10.11
 
FCX Adjusted Stock Award Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.12
 
FCX 1995 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.13
 
FCX 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
   
10.14
 
Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Options under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.15
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.16
 
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.17
 
FCX 1999 Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Annual Report of FCX on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (the FCX 1999 Form 10-K).
   
10.18
 
FCX Stock Appreciation Rights Plan dated May 2, 2000. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).
   
10.19
 
FCX 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.20
 
Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Options under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.21
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.22
 
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.23
 
FCX 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.24
 
FCX 2004 Director Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the FCX 2005 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.25
 
FCX Director Compensation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the FCX 2004 Form 10-K.
   
10.26
 
FCX Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated February 26, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the FCX 2004 Form 10-K.
   
10.27
 
Amendment No. 1 to FCX Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated May 3, 2005.
   
10.28
 
FCX 2005 Annual Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated May 5, 2005.
   
10.29
 
Amended Financial Counseling and Tax Return Preparation and Certification Program of FCX. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.30
 
FM Services Company Performance Incentive Awards Program as amended effective February 2, 1999. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the FCX 1998 Form 10-K.
 
10.31
 
Amended FM Services Company Financial Counseling and Tax Return Preparation and Certification Program. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.32
 
Consulting Agreement dated as of December 22, 1988, with Kissinger Associates, Inc. (Kissinger Associates). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the FCX 1997 Form 10-K).
   
10.33
 
Letter Agreement dated May 1, 1989, with Kent Associates, Inc. (Kent Associates, predecessor in interest to Kissinger Associates). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the FCX 1997 Form 10-K.
   
10.34
 
Letter Agreement dated January 27, 1997, among Kissinger Associates, Kent Associates, FCX, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., and FMS. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 (the FCX 2001 Form 10-K).
   
10.35
 
Supplemental Consulting Agreement with Kissinger Associates and Kent Associates, effective as of January 1, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX filed on December 30, 2004 (the FCX December 30, 2004 Form 8-K).
   
10.36
 
Agreement for Consulting Services between FTX and B. M. Rankin, Jr. effective as of January 1, 1990 (assigned to FMS as of January 1, 1996). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the FCX 1997 Form 10-K.
   
10.37
 
Supplemental Agreement between FMS and B. M. Rankin, Jr. dated December 15, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the FCX 1997 Form 10-K.
   
10.38
 
Supplemental Letter Agreement between FMS and B. M. Rankin, Jr., effective as of January 1, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the FCX 2004 Form 10-K.
   
10.39
 
Letter Agreement effective as of January 7, 1997, between Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. and FMS. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the FCX 2001 Form 10-K.
   
10.40
 
Supplemental Letter Agreement dated July 14, 2003, between J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. and FMS. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.
   
10.41
 
Supplemental Consulting Agreement between FMS and J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., effective as of January 1, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the FCX December 30, 2004 Form 8-K.
   
10.42
 
Supplemental Letter Agreement between FMS and J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., dated January 18, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the FCX 2004 Form 10-K.
   
10.43
 
Letter Agreement dated November 1, 1999, between FMS and Gabrielle K. McDonald. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the FCX 1999 Form 10-K.
   
10.44
 
Supplemental Letter Agreement, between FMS and Gabrielle K. McDonald, effective as of January 1, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the FCX December 30, 2004 Form 8-K.
   
10.45
 
Executive Employment Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and James R. Moffett. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.46
 
Executive Employment Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.47
 
Change of Control Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and James R. Moffett. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
   
10.48
 
Change of Control Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
 
10.49
 
First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and James R. Moffett. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.50
 
First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.51
 
First Amendment to Change of Control Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and James R. Moffett. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.52
 
First Amendment to Change of Control Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.53
 
Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Michael J. Arnold. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.54
 
Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Mark J. Johnson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.
   
10.55
 
Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Kathleen L. Quirk. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

 
Letter from Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial statements.
   
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d - 14(a).
   
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d - 14(a).
   
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
   
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350.
 
E-5